Quoting is all around us. But do we really know what it means? How do people actually quote today, and how did our present systems come about? This book brings together a down-to-earth account of contemporary quoting with an examination of the comparative and historical background that lies behind it and the characteristic way that quoting links past and present, the far and the near.Drawing from anthropology, cultural history, folklore, cultural studies, sociolinguistics, literary studies and the ethnography of speaking, Ruth Finnegan 's fascinating study sets our present conventions into crosscultural and historical perspective. She traces the curious history of quotation marks, examines the long tradition of quotation collections with their remarkable recycling across the centuries, and explores the uses of quotation in literary, visual and oral traditions. The book tracks the changing defi nitions and control of quoting over the millennia and in doing so throws new light on ideas such as imitation, allusion, authorship, originality and plagiarism .

Write with confidence with this informative, quick-reference guide to punctuation and style!Answers questions about punctuation, capitalization,italicization, abbreviation, quotation, and documentation of sources Provides instructions for preparing notes and bibliographiesIncludes a guide to copyediting and proofreading Firmly based on real-life source material, reflecting both the consensus and the variety in American published writing

The bestselling workbook and grammar guide, revised and updated! Hailed as one of the best books around for teaching grammar, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes easy-to-understand rules, abundant examples, dozens of reproducible quizzes, and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar to middle and high schoolers, college students, ESL students, homeschoolers, and more. This concise, entertaining workbook makes learning English grammar and usage simple and fun. This updated 12th edition reflects the latest updates to English usage and grammar, and includes answers to all reproducible quizzes to facilitate self-assessment and learning. Clear and concise, with easy-to-follow explanations, offering "just the facts" on English grammar, punctuation, and usage Fully updated to reflect the latest rules, along with even more quizzes and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar Ideal for students from seventh grade through adulthood in the US and abroad For anyone who wants to understand the major rules and subtle guidelines of English grammar and usage, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation offers comprehensive, straightforward instruction.

Since its publication in 1985, the "MLA Style Manual" has been the standard guide for graduate students, teachers, and scholars in the humanities and for professional writers in many fields. Extensively reorganized and revised, the new edition contains several added sections and updated guidelines on citing electronic works--including materials found on the World Wide Web.

Is today's language at an all-time low? Are pronunciations like cawfee and chawklit bad English? Is slang like my bad or hook up improper? Is it incorrect to mix English and Spanish, as in Yo quiero Taco Bell? Can you write Who do you trust? rather than Whom do you trust? Linguist Edwin Battistella takes a hard look at traditional notions of bad language, arguing that they are often based in sterile conventionality. Examining grammar and style, cursing, slang, and political correctness, regional and ethnic dialects, and foreign accents and language mixing, Battistella discusses the strong feelings evoked by language variation, from objections to the pronunciation NU-cu-lar to complaints about bilingual education. He explains the natural desire for uniformity in writing and speaking and traces the association of mainstream norms to ideas about refinement, intelligence, education, character, national unity and political values. Battistella argues that none of these qualities is inherently connected to language. It is tempting but wrong, Battistella argues, to think of slang, dialects and nonstandard grammar as simply breaking the rules of good English. Instead, we should view language as made up of alternative forms of orderliness adopted by speakers depending on their purpose. Thus we can study the structure and context of nonstandard language in order to illuminate and enrich traditional forms of language, and make policy decisions based on an informed engagement. Re-examining longstanding and heated debates, Bad Language will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers engaged and interested in the debate over what constitutes proper language.

"This fascinating book examines the ways in which we quote today and the curious history of how quoting became part of our everyday lives. Quoting provides a link to our loved ones ("as my mother used to say..."), to our religious and literary heritage, to past wisdom and to current attitudes. It can also be irritating, patronising, pedantic and, in some cases, illegal. Ruth Finnegan's meticulous study sheds new light on how quoting has been used in visual, oral and written traditions around the world. It is an enjoyable and engrossing read for anyone interested in language, culture and literature, and makes us rethink our ideas about originality, authorship and plagiarism"--Publisher's description.

"This fascinating book examines the ways in which we quote today and the curious history of how quoting became part of our everyday lives. Quoting provides a link to our loved ones ("as my mother used to say ... "), to our religious and literary heritage, to past wisdom and to current attitudes. It can also be irritating, patronising, pedantic and, in some cases, illegal. Ruth Finnegan's meticulous study sheds new light on how quoting has been used in visual, oral and written traditions around the world. It is an enjoyable and engrossing read for anyone interested in language, culture and literature, and makes us rethink our ideas about originality, authorship and plagiarism"--Publisher's description.