David Crystal, an honorary professor of linguistics and author of 'Bookish Words and Their Surprising Stories', dives into the rich history of English vocabulary shaped by literature. He discusses how terms related to books have influenced everyday language and shares anecdotes about idioms like 'bookworm' and 'stop the press'. The conversation also explores the evolution of language from traditional influencers to modern social media influences, showcasing how technology and culture continually reshape our linguistic landscape.
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Discovering Bookish Words
David Crystal found many book-related words and idioms by searching dictionaries and his extensive library.
Phrases such as "I'm in your good books" left the book world and entered common language usage.
insights INSIGHT
Why 19th Century Words Exploded
The 19th century was prolific for book-related words due to booming literacy and publishing.
More printing presses and advertising led to more words about books entering English.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Origin of 'Blurb' Word
The word "blurb" originated from Gellett Burgess's caricature character "Belinda Blurb" at a publisher's dinner.
The term now applies broadly beyond book descriptions to all sorts of product backings.
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David Crystal's 'Bookish Words and Their Surprising Stories' delves into the etymological journeys of words associated with books and publishing. The book uncovers the fascinating histories behind everyday terms, illustrating how their meanings have evolved over centuries. Crystal explores words originating from various periods, from Anglo-Saxon times to the digital age, revealing the dynamic interplay between language and culture. The book highlights the profound impact of the printing press, the Bible, and other literary milestones on the English lexicon. It is a captivating exploration of the hidden stories behind the words we use to describe the world of books.
In Bookish Words & their Surprising Stories(Bodleian, 2025) by Dr. David Crystal, explore how books have played a pivotal role in the history of English vocabulary. The noun itself is one of the oldest words in the language, originating from boc in Old English, and appears in many commonly used expressions today – by the book, bring to book and bookworm – to name a few.
Alongside the arrival of the printing press came the development of the newspaper industry. Terminology such as stop the press, front page news and hit the headlines have developed into common English vernacular over time. Still, the emergence of the internet continues to change all languages.
This anthology presents a selection of more than 100 words which show the influence of writing, reading and publishing books on our everyday vocabulary over the centuries, telling the stories behind their linguistic origins, and uncovering some surprising twists in the development of their meaning through time.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
New Books in Science, Technology, and Society