
Think on my Words
Exploring Shakespeare's Language
David Crystal(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 29. March 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
266 pages
978-1-107-61768-1 (ISBN)
Description
For decades, people have been studying Shakespeare's life and times and in recent years there has been a renewed surge of interest in aspects of his language. So how can we better understand Shakespeare? David Crystal provides a lively and original introduction to Shakespeare's language, making his plays easily accessible to modern-day audiences. Covering the five main dimensions of language structure - writing system, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and conversational style - this book demonstrates how examining these linguistic 'nuts and bolts' can help us achieve a greater appreciation of Shakespeare's linguistic creativity.
Reviews / Votes
'Here is a linguist [David Crystal] who knows not only how words work but how they work in theatre. Anyone who cares for Shakespeare will be informed and entertained by this intriguing and wide-ranging study.' Stanley WellsMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
2 Tables, black and white; 4 Line drawings, unspecified
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
339 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-61768-1 (9781107617681)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2013
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€15.99
Available for download

E-Book
03/2012
Cambridge University Press
€13.49
Available for download
Previous edition

Book
02/2008
Cambridge University Press
€18.56
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Paul Fletcher is Emeritus Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences at University College Cork, Ireland. Since the 1970s he has published widely on language development and language impairment in children speaking English, Cantonese and Mandarin. His research focuses on grammatical and lexical development in typically developing children and in children with developmental disorders of language.
Content
1. 'You speak a language that I understand not': myths and realities; 2. 'Now, sir, what is your text?': knowing the sources; 3. 'In print I found it': Shakespearean graphology; 4. 'Know my stops': Shakespearean punctuation; 5. 'Speak the speech': Shakespearean phonology; 6. 'Trippingly upon the tongue': Shakespearean pronunciation; 7. 'Think on my words': Shakespearean vocabulary; 8. 'Talk of a noun and a verb': Shakespearean grammar; 9. 'Hear sweet discourse': Shakespearean conversation; Epilogue: 'your daring tongue': Shakespearean creativity; Appendix: an A-to-Z of Shakespeare's false friends.