The Language-Lover's Lexipedia : An A-Z of Linguistic Curiosities

Summary: Dreyer’s English meets Schott’s Original Miscellany in this delicious tour of the lesser-known wonders of the language world, perfect for language lovers, word nerds, and the incurably curious.A delightful rollick through language unlike any you’ve ever experienced. As the inventor of the bestselling game about words, League of the Lexicon, Joshua Blackburn has created an A–Z that’s part-encyclopedia, part-treasure map, and an all-around joy for anyone interested in words and language. Meticulously researched, joyfully written, and beautifully designed, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia dives into the quirky, the curious, and the unexpected to reveal a world of language you never knew existed. Discover the biting humor of Scottish insults (you’re talking mince), the curious history of the Chinese typewriter, and the strange yet vivid color names of Elizabethan England—like “dead Spaniard” and “lusty gallant.” Whether it’s the dark history of the Index of Banned Books or the bewildering grammar of Yoda, each pithy entry is brimming with knowledge and wit. Illustrated with enchanting line art that evokes a 19th-century reference book, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is as visually delightful as it is intellectually captivating. It’s stuffed with quirky lists, surprising facts, and illuminating stories, making it the ultimate gift for any language lover. Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Decode the euphemisms of Victorian England? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? This book has you covered—and then some. Blackburn’s infectious enthusiasm turns linguistic oddities into pure entertainment and offers up endless rabbit holes to dive down, with each thoughtful entry promising to charm, educate, and tickle. From the linguistic history of marijuana to the origins of nonsense, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a must-read for anyone who revels in the beauty, humor, and sheer weirdness of language. Quotes:"Astonishingly, addictively entertaining."—Benjamin Dreyer, New York Times bestselling author of Dreyer's English "This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff."—Lynne Truss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves "Oh, Good God – it's all here. The answers to all your language questions answered 1) accurately and 2) hilariously." —John McWhorter, author of Nine Nasty Words "What a magnificent achievement. Utterly delicious. You don’t know whether, to graze, nibble, gobble, guzzle, scoff or scarf. Beautifully researched, beautifully written and oh so beautifully designed and laid out. A word-lover’s dream."—Stephen Fry, author of Mythos "The Language Lover’s Lexipedia is a veritable circus of words—words swinging from tent-tops, words teetering on tightropes, words jumping through flaming hoopla. Joshua Blackburn’s friendly, lucid style creates a treasure trove of learning dressed up to have fun."—Richard Lederer, author of Anguished EnglishAuthor Bio: Joshua Blackburn is a writer and photographer. He’s also the inventor of the most successful word game in Kickstarter history, League of the Lexicon. His previous books include the award-winning Acme Climate Action and Launderama, a photography book that beautifully documents London’s last remaining launderettes. Joshua created League of the Lexicon for his two sons during Covid lockdown and was the game’s most prolific question writer. He has since become an accidental linguist, appearing on podcasts like The Allusionist, Because Language, The Failing Writers, and Butter No Parsnips. He lives in London with his family, a neurotic cat, and an overly large taxidermy collection.