A guide to the culture and and humour behind common - and not so common expressions; New structure for easy browsing and access to content; Pull out quotes, classic phrases and fun illustrations; New layouts reflect humour and lightness of content.
This book offers a critical overview of non-mainstream ('fringe') claims and theories about language, focusing on work from the past fifty years. It covers topics such as the origins and relationships of languages, writing systems, mysterious linguistic sources, non-human languages, and the connection between language and the mind. The ideas presented range from bizarre to dubious. The final chapter examines aspects of mainstream linguistics that may warrant skepticism. While there is existing critical literature on specific topics, this work is the first comprehensive, linguistically-informed exploration of the entire subject area. The author, a professional linguist and member of the global skeptical movement, critiques a wide range of ideas fairly and without dogmatism, avoiding mere debunking. He also traces how these non-mainstream ideas have evolved from earlier intellectual backgrounds. Technical jargon is minimized, with key concepts explained in a glossary or as they arise. The author, Mark Newbrook, has a rich academic background in linguistics and skepticism, having lectured and researched in various countries. He has published multiple books and articles on sociolinguistics, dialectology, and skeptical linguistics.