Book description
Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland is one of those rare books that feels like a warm hug from an old friend-except the friend is a word nerd who has spent twenty years turning everyday chatter into linguistic gold. Martha Barnette, best known as the co-host of A Way with Words, invites us on a tour through the hidden corners of our vocabulary, and she does it with a mix of scholarly curiosity and playful wit that keeps you hooked from page one.
What makes this book stand out is how Barnette balances depth with accessibility. She dives into etymology-explaining why "scuttlebutt" was once a ship's gossip column-while also celebrating regional slang, like the Appalachian "yonder." Her anecdotes about radio mishaps and family neologisms feel genuine, making the history of language feel lived rather than just studied. The book is peppered with new words that feel fresh, along with trivia bits that will have you laughing at your own ignorance ("Did you know 'floccinaucinihilipilification' is a real word?").
Barnette's narrative thread-her journey from Appalachian roots to studying Ancient Greek and finally to becoming a beloved radio host-gives the book heart. It isn't just a dictionary; it's a memoir that shows how language shapes identity and community. The humor is gentle yet sharp, making even dense linguistic concepts approachable.
In short, Friends with Words is an expert guide to our shared lexicon, delivered with good-humored enthusiasm. Whether you're a seasoned philologist or simply love the quirks of everyday speech, this book will leave you smiling, your mind buzzing with new words, and a newfound appreciation for the linguistic adventures that surround us every day.
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Backstreet
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42nd Street
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Alpha
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Shamrock
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience