Word Origins... and How We Know Them: Etymology for Everyone

By Anatoly Liberman

Book Overview

Written in a funny, charming, and conversational style, Word Origins is the first book to offer a thorough investigation of the history and the science of etymology, making this little-known field accessible to everyone interested in the history of words.

Anatoly Liberman, an internationally acclaimed etymologist, takes the reader by the hand and explains the many ways that English words can be made, and the many ways in which etymologists try to unearth the origins of words. Every chapter is packed with dozens of examples of proven word histories, used to illustrate the correct ways to trace the origins of words as well as some of the egregiously bad ways to trace them. He not only tells the known origins of hundreds of words, but also shows how their origins were determined. And along the way, the reader is treated to a wealth of fascinating word facts. Did they once have bells in a belfry? No, the original meaning of belfry was siege tower. Are the words isle and island, raven and ravenous, or pan and pantry related etymologically? No, though they look strikingly similar, these words came to English via different routes.

Partly a history, partly a how-to, and completely entertaining, Word Origins invites readers behind the scenes to watch an etymologist at work.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195387074
• ISBN13: 9780195387070
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

The book is a good library copy with protective covering and arrived in a timely fashion.

The book is a good library copy with protective covering and arrived in a timely fashion. It's a fascinating book, not quite as readable as other etymology books I have read, but offers good insights into how an etymologist does his or her work. It's a good book to read just before you go to sleep because it's interesting enough to hold your attention, but dry enough to put you to sleep.

Discovery rather than Consensus

'Etymos/on' means 'true, real' in Greek, and etymologists endeavor to find the true origin of words. Right away we are on treacherous ground: one man's truth is another man's folly. Etymology deals with discovery, not with consensus, says Liberman. If you take the etymological explanations offered in standard dictionaries at face value (and look no further when it says "origin unknown"), you don't need this book. But let's say you come across a word like 'litter' which can have so many different meanings (scattered rubbish; stretcher; a number of young brought forth by a pig, cat, etc.; straw, hay or the like used as bedding for animals or protection for plants) you can't help wondering how this came about. (Hint: it all goes back to Latin 'lectus'=bed). Some word origins are quite transparent: it is easy to recognize 'day's eye' in 'daisy'. Onomatopoeic words like clap. flap, swish, buzz, etc. require no difficult analysis. But how is the nail on your finger or toe related to the metal object you hit with a hammer? Thus we find ourselves in the thicket of etymological research before we quite know how we got there. How the discipline developed, how it waxed and waned through the centuries and in different countries is a fascinating tale in itself. "Etymology finds its justification in the belief that words are not arbitrary but meaningful combinations of sounds", says the author. After leading us through various decoding efforts - some gratifyingly successful, others disconcertingly inconclusive - he sheds some light on the methods of etymology, and then gives an overview of the Indo-European sound shifts, Grimm's Law, and the nitty-gritty of historical linguistics. But just when we think we are on solid ground again, we are confronted with multiple violations and exceptions to these rules, and certainty once again yields to doubt. A treasure trove of references in different languages is incorporated in the notes; they reflect the fierce battles that have been going on between scholars and rival factions and are definitely worth reading alongside the text. (Some typos are distracting - Greek nu confused with upsilon, misplaced hyphens - but they don't spoil the fun). Liberman has tried to "combine entertainment with instruction", and I think he has succeeded admirably with this book. It does not reek of pedantry, yet manages to sneak in a lot of serious knowledge while maintaining a light, conversational tone. When, at the end, the author invites his readers "to leaf through this book again", you know that you will enjoy it even more the second time around.

word origins

very interesting to really know the origins of the many words and phrases we use in every day language...I sure have more respect for the phrases being used.