Description
Product ID: | 9780349015309 |
Product Form: | Hardback |
Country of Manufacture: | GB |
Title: | Mother Tongue |
Subtitle: | The surprising history of women's words -'A gem of a book' (Kate Mosse) |
Authors: | Author: Jenni Nuttall |
Page Count: | 304 |
Subjects: | Language: history and general works, Language: history & general works, Linguistics, Feminism and feminist theory, linguistics, Feminism & feminist theory |
Description: | Select Guide Rating A rich, provocative and entertaining history of women's words - of the language we have, and haven't, had to share our lives. A rich, provocative and entertaining history of women''s words - of the language we have, and haven''t, had to share our lives. Spinster. Cougar. Carer. Matron. Wife.So many of the words we use to articulate the experiences women share feel awkward or alien. Medical terms are accurate but antiseptic. Slang often perpetuates stereotypes. Where are the plain, honest words for women''s daily lives? From the dawn of Old English to the present day, Dr. Jenni Nuttall guides readers through the evolution of the words we have used to describe bodies, menstruation, sexuality, the consequences of male violence, childbirth, paid and unpaid work, and gender. Along the way, she argues that, paradoxically, as women have made slow progress towards equality, we''ve lost some of the most expressive and eloquent bits of our vocabulary. Inspired by Nuttall''s deep knowledge of the English language as well as conversations with her teenage daughter, this is a book for anyone who loves language - and for feminists who want to look to the past in order to move forward. ''Full of interesting observations . . . Entertaining'' PHILIP HENSHER, SPECTATOR ''One of the wittiest and most insightful books of the year . . . A must-have for any lover of language, history or women'' BUZZ MAGAZINE ''There is a nugget of joy and wisdom on every single page'' VICTORIA WHITWORTH, historian and author of Daughter of the Wolf |
Imprint Name: | Virago Press Ltd |
Publisher Name: | Little, Brown Book Group |
Country of Publication: | GB |
Publishing Date: | 2023-05-25 |