Author(s): Laurie Bauer; Dianne Bardsley; Janet Holmes; Paul Warren

Writing & Reading

Why is it not wrong to be doubly negative? Where do you place the stress in such words as 'dissect'? Where does 'wowser', 'craw thumper' and the 'f-word' come from? Do New Zealanders mangle the English language? Should we say different 'from' or 'to' or 'than'? We use it every day, but what is this thing called language and are there rights and wrongs about its use? Four leading linguists, with specific interest in New Zealand English, tackle the common-place and quirky questions that arise from what we say, read and write. Funny, accessible, informative, this is a fascinating book.