English Vocabulary

English Vocabulary: The Basics offers a clear, non-jargonistic introduction to English vocabulary, the way linguists classify and explain it, and the place of vocabulary in our overall picture of the language, and in society. Introducing a range of terminology for discussing vocabulary, the reader is provided with a coherent, structured description of what we know about words and their meanings.
Key features of this book include:
- Analysis of historical roots of present-day words
- Coverage of the differences between speech and writing and between formality and informality
- Understanding of the social implications of choices that readers make to use standard or non-standard (e.g., regional/dialect) vocabulary
- A focus on British English with reference to a wide range of varieties of English that include North American English, Irish English, Indian English, Malaysian English, Nigerian English and Caribbean English.
Featuring a glossary of key terms, cartoons and illustrations, further reading, reflection points, interesting "factoids" and examples from corpora from around the world, this book is an engaging and thought-provoking read for anyone with an interest in English vocabulary.

Michael McCarthy is a national bestselling author, whose nonfiction books include The Sun Farmer, Ashes Under Water and The Hidden Hindenburg. His poetry has appeared in prestigious literary journals including The Southern Review and Poetry East. Behold is his first poetry collection.
Kimberly Callas is a multi-media artist, sculptor, and the lead artist of the Social Practice project Discovering the Ecological Self. Her work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums.