Why Is This a Question? by Paul Anthony Jones - ISBN: 9781783966646
Hardcover
Unravel language mysteries: explore the alphabet, grammar, sound, and meaning.
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Why Is This a Question?

Everything About the Origins and Oddities of Language You Never Thought to Ask

RRP$29.98

$26.93

  • Hardcover

    320 pages

  • Release Date

    18 January 2023

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Summary

A fascinating exploration of the nuts and bolts of human language.

Why don’t eleven and twelve end in –teen? The rest of our counting system sits in neatly arithmetical sets of ten, so why do these two rulebreakers seem so at odds to the numbers that follow them?

Admittedly, that’s probably a question you’ve never thought to ask. But if you’re even remotely interested in the origins and oddities of language, it’s likely also a question you’re…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781783966646
ISBN-10:1783966645
Author:Paul Anthony Jones
Publisher:Elliott & Thompson Limited
Imprint:Elliott & Thompson Limited
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:320
Release Date:18 January 2023
Weight:442g
Dimensions:35mm x 144mm x 224mm
A-Format
B-Format
Why Is This a Question? by Paul Anthony Jones - ISBN: 9781783966646
144 × 224 mm
C-Format
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

’As entertaining as it is engrossing’ John Banville

’Enlightening, delightful’ Arthur der Weduwen, author of The Library

‘Every page will make you stop, think and wonder.’ James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of England

‘Enthralling, with a riveting “who knew?” moment on nearly every page.’ Caroline Taggart, author of Humble Pie and Cold Turkey


‘Deft, informative, and packed with fascinating morsels’ Lev Parikian, author of Light Rains Sometimes Fall

‘[Paul Anthony Jones is] a first-rate collector of linguistic curios’ Times Literary Supplement

About The Author

Paul Anthony Jones

Paul Anthony Jones is a linguistic phenomenon. He runs the popular @HaggardHawks Twitter feed, blog, and YouTube channel, sharing daily word facts with thousands of engaged followers.

His books include:

  • Word Drops: A Sprinkling of Linguistic Curiosities (E&T, 2015)
  • The Accidental Dictionary (E&T, 2016)
  • The Cabinet of Linguistic Curiosities (E&T, 2017)
  • Around the World in 80 Words (E&T, 2018)

He has also authored several other books on trivia and language. Paul appears regularly in the media and has contributed to the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries online. Additionally, he is a piano teacher and musician, and resides in Newcastle upon Tyne.

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