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The Meaning of Tingo: and Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World - Softcover

 
9780141021980: The Meaning of Tingo: and Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World
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Did you know that people in Indonesia have a word that means 'to take off your clothes in order to dance'? Or how many words the Albanians have for eyebrows and moustaches? Or that the Dutch word for skimming stones is plimpplamppletteren? Drawing on the collective wisdom of over 154 languages, this intriguing book is arranged by theme so you can compare attitudes all over the world to such subjects as food, the human body and the battle of the sexes. Here you can find not only those words for which there is no direct counterpart in English (such as the Japanese age-otori which means looking less attractive after a haircut), but also a frank discussion of exactly how many 'Eskimo' terms there are for snow, and a vast array of information exploring the wonderful and often downright strange world of words. Oh, and tingo means 'to take all the objects one desires from the house of a friend, one at a time, by asking to borrow them'.

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Review:
At last we know those Eskimo words for snow and how the Dutch render the sound of Rice Krispies. Adam Jacot de Boinod has produced an absolutely delicious little book. (Stephen Fry, author of "Ode Less Traveled")
From the Author:
Many English speakers admit to being lazy both at home and when travelling in their reliance on English as the pre-eminent international language and I feel that in this multi-cultural age we live in we should embrace the joy, glory and wonder of foreign words and expressions. English is unquestionably a great language but I suppose what I am saying is ³don¹t be surprised there are many others.²

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  • PublisherPenguin
  • Publication date2006
  • ISBN 10 0141021985
  • ISBN 13 9780141021980
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages224
  • IllustratorHowgate Sandra
  • Rating

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9781594200861: The Meaning of Tingo: And Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World

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ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9781594200861
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, 2006
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De Boinod, Adam Jacot
Published by Penguin UK (2006)
ISBN 10: 0141021985 ISBN 13: 9780141021980
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