Playing With Words

Drawing on years of experience of writing, teaching and publishing, this book offers essential tools for writers interested in honing their craft. Whether you're a poet, non-fiction writer, novelist, journalist, student or simply a lover of words, it will take you on an exciting and challenging journey to becoming a sophisticated writer. As in the learning of any true craft or art, first the focus is on specific skills, then on consolidating those skills, which by the end will be innate. Through a variety of exercises and freewriting prompts, Playing with Words will help you develop your writing, trying out new styles and approaches along the way. Use this book in a class, in a group, or alone in a writer's attic.

A Play on Words is a lively, knee-slapping romp through the inherent vagaries of the English language. Readers can let the book drop open at any page and find an invitation to appreciate the absurdities with which real life is packed and to enjoy a giggle from John Does’ clever take on them. Dr. John F. Does is also the author of a series of conversation-starter books for children on a range of sensitive social topics. The Weather’s Shitty, Kitty is an adorable exploration of words. Words are not good or bad. They are just words. But how we use our words can make people feel uncomfortable. Uncle Funky’s a Drunk, Skunk is a warm and loving way to help young children understand the issue of problem drinking by adults. Those Hens are Cliquey, Chickie is a fun, action-packed look at youth cliques and bullying. That Salmon’s not so Dumb, Chum warmly explores dyslexia from the perspectives of children, parents and teachers.

This superb collection of more than 50 word games and activities is designed to help children develop language, reading, spelling, thinking skills, and more. It includes rhyming, alphabet, and grammar games; secret languages; mnemonics; and games to help children discover their own strengths.

Wordplay involving several linguistic codes is an important modality of ludic language. This volume offers a multidisciplinary approach to the topic, discussing examples from different epochs, genres, and communicative situations. The contributions illustrate the multi-dimensionality, linguistic make-up, and the special interactive potential of wordplay across linguistic and cultural boundaries, including the challenging practice of translation.

With an emphasis on learning through play, this book provides a comprehensive collection of word games for vocabulary development or to constructively fill leisure time. The activities are suitable for children and adults and can be adapted for different client groups. They are ideal for teachers, therapists, youth club leaders or activity providers. The only principle for including a game in this collection is that it had to be fun to play! This title includes: A-E-I-O-U; Letter patience; 'M' in the middle; double meanings; Pro-nouns; Haiku; Guessing rhyming words; Forbidden letters; Who has the word?; and Word snakes. The only principle for including a game in this collection is that it had to be fun to play!

Luciano Berio's Sinfonia (1968) marked a return by the composer to orchestral writing after a gap of six years. This in-depth study demonstrates the central position the work occupies in Berio's output. David Osmond-Smith discusses the way in which Berio used the Bororo myth described in Levi-Strauss's Le cru et le cuit as a framework for Sinfonia. This is one of many influences in the work, which also include Joyce's 'Sirens' chapter from Ulysses, Beckett's The Unnameable and the scherzo from Mahler's 2nd Symphony. The listener who takes refuge in the score of Sinfonia, argues Osmond-Smith, finds there a maze of allusions to things beyond the score. It is some of those allusions that this book seeks to illuminate.

Learn the origins of popular phrases in the English language through this exciting book of games perfect for language lovers. Do you know the connection between the expression A HARROWING EXPERIENCE and agriculture, between BY AND LARGE and sailing, between GET YOUR GOAT and horses, or between STEAL YOUR THUNDER and show business? You probably have heard the comparisons HAPPY AS A CLAM, SMART AS A WHIP, PLEASED AS PUNCH, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL—but have you ever wondered why a clam should be happy, a whip smart, punch pleased, and a doornail dead? Through the fifty games included in The Play of Words you'll discover the answers to these questions as well as hundreds of other semantic delights that repose in our marvelous English language.