How Language Works
David Crystal
Reading Time
at 250 WPM8h 32m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 8h 32m to read How Language Works.
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Test my reading speedEnter speed in words per minute
18
days at 30 min/day
512
total minutes
How Language Works
Published
November 30, 2006
Publisher
Overlook Hardcover
Pages
512
ISBN-13
9781585678488
ISBN-10
1585678481
Description
In the author's own words, "How Language Works is not about music, cookery, or sex. But it is about how we talk about music, cookery, and sex—or, indeed, anything at all." Language is so fundamental to everyday life that we take it for granted. But as David Crystal makes clear in this work of unprecedented scope, language is an extremely powerful tool that defines the human species. Crystal offers general readers a personal tour of the intricate workings of language. He moves effortlessly from big subjects like the origins of languages, how children learn to speak, and how conversation works to subtle but revealing points such as how email differs from both speech and writing in important ways, how language reveals a person's social status, and how we decide whether a word is rude or polite. Broad and deep, but with a light and witty touch, How Language Works is the ultimate layman's guide to how we communicate with one another.
Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in How Language Works?
This edition of How Language Works has approximately 512 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read How Language Works?
For most readers, How Language Works typically takes between 10h 40m and 7h 7m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 128,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 8h 32m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 18 days • Estimated word count: 128,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of How Language Works?
The estimated word count for How Language Works is approximately 128,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of How Language Works?
How Language Works was written by David Crystal.
When was How Language Works published?
The publication date for this specific edition is November 30, 2006. The original work may have been published on a different date.