Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary And Language Companion - Hardcover

9780141007373: Shakespeare's Words: A Glossary And Language Companion
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This is a book for anyone who wants to understand all the nuances of Shakespeare's language: David Crystal and his actor son, Ben, have collected 4000 words from Shakespeare's lexicon which are frequently misunderstood by, or incomprehensible to, the modern reader. The words are glossed and there is a quotation illustrating the word in context. They have also collected into panels words of particular kinds (Shakespeare's bawdy for example). The book includes a unique series of diagrammatical representations of the relationships between characters and places for each play.

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Review:
'The aim is laudable: to highlight the range and multiplicity of meanings and strengthen the reader's intuition for the language' -- The Economist, 14th June 2002

'The editors ... have produced a huge work of user-friendly scholarship ... It works brilliantly' -- The Economist, 14th June 2002

'The list itself is heroic ... If in doubt the editors have gone for more, not less' -- The Economist, 14th June 2002

'There can be no doubt that [the editors] have carried out their work admirably' -- John Goss in The Sunday Telegraph, 9th June 2002

'When foxed and flummoxed, there's nothing for it but this excellent glossary' -- The Economist, 14th June 2002
Synopsis:
This book is for people who love Shakespeare, or love language, or both. David Crystal, one of the world's foremost authorities on the English language, with his actor son, Ben, have taken a fresh look at the vocabulary of Shakespeare's poems and plays and compiled a glossary of nearly 14,000 words and meanings. They have included every word which presents the reader with a difficulty arising out of the differences between Elizabethan and Modern English. This collaboration of linguist and actor is unique, enabling the author to add fascinating nuances to our understanding of Shakespeare's language. The book departs from the usual type of glossary in several ways. Meanings are brought into sharp focus through the use of multiple glosses; and each entry is supported by at least one illustrative quotation. A scene-setting caption puts the quotation in its dramatic context and helps to clarify the meaning. Cross-references to further uses of a word are made to other plays. Additional features are introduced which give the book the character of a language companion.

For those at the beginning of their encounter with Shakespeare, there is a handy basic list of frequently encountered words. For the more advanced reader, there are panels on intriguing areas of his language such as archaisms, greetings and swear-words. A series of appendices collates the way characters are named, the names of the people and places they talk about, and the foreign languages that some of them use. There are complete listings of all the French, Latin, Spanish and Italian words, as well as information about the way Welsh, Scottish and Irish dialects are handled. An especially fascinating feature of the book is the way the plays are presented to the reader both in written and diagrammatic form. Each play has a conventional plot synopsis and list of dramatis personae, but the authors additionally provide a specially devised Shakespearean Circle. The Circles are informative illustrations representing the way the characters of each play interact with each other, and they thereby show the reader at a glance who belongs in which circle of influence. In "Richard II", which characters follow Richard and which follow Bolingbroke? The relevant page will immediately tell you.

The Circles are ideal for theatre-goers, actors and students, and are uniquely useful as a visual aid. The combination of these features with the authority of a language expert and the dramtaic instincts of an actor make "Shakespeare's Words" ideal for aficionados and amateurs alike, either as a quick reference or as a basis for in-depth research. It is a valuable aid in the study and understanding of Shakespeare.

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  • PublisherPenguin
  • Publication date2002
  • ISBN 10 0141007370
  • ISBN 13 9780141007373
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages676
  • Rating

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