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The surprising and compelling story of two rival geniuses in an all-out race to decode one of the world's most famous documents--the Rosetta Stone--and their twenty-year-long battle to solve the mystery of ancient Egypt's hieroglyphs. The Rosetta Stone is one of the most famous objects in the world, attracting millions of visitors to the British museum ever year, and yet most people don't really know what it is. Discovered in a pile of rubble in 1799, this slab of stone proved to be the key to unlocking a lost language that baffled scholars for centuries. Carved in ancient Egypt, the Rosetta Stone carried the same message in different languages--in Greek using Greek letters, and in Egyptian using picture-writing called hieroglyphs. Until its discovery, no one in the world knew how to read the hieroglyphs that covered every temple and text and statue in Egypt. Dominating the world for thirty centuries, ancient Egypt was the mightiest empire the world had ever known, yet everything about it--the pyramids, mummies, the Sphinx--was shrouded in mystery. Whoever was able to decipher the Rosetta Stone, and learn how to read hieroglyphs, would solve that mystery and fling open a door that had been locked for two thousand years. Two brilliant rivals set out to win that prize. One was English, the other French, at a time when England and France were enemies and the world's two great superpowers. The Writing of the Gods chronicles this high-stakes intellectual race in which the winner would win glory for both himself and his nation. A riveting portrait of empires both ancient and modern, this is an unparalleled look at the culture and history of ancient Egypt and a fascinating, fast-paced story of human folly and discovery unlike any other.
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A winningly funny look at the weird and wonderful history of common English words.
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How can humans keep thousands of words in mind and have no difficulty understanding trillions of sentences? The answer to this question might lie in parents teaching their children language skills, or in in the human brain, which may be equipped with a language instinct or maybe in impressive memory skills that link words to their perceptual information. Undoubtedly, there is some truth to some of these explanations. But one answer - perhaps the most important answer - has been largely ignored. Keeping Those Words in Mind tries to remedy this oversight. Linguist and cognitive psychologist Max Louwerse, PhD. argues that understanding language is not just possible because of memory, brains, environment and computation, but because of the patterns in the sequence of sounds and words themselves.He demonstrates that what seems to be an arbitrary communication system, with arbitrary characters and sounds that become words, and arbitrary meanings for those words, actually is a well-organized system that has evolved over tens of thousands of years to make communication as efficient as it is. What is needed for humans to acquire language, is for humans to recognize and discover the patterns in our communication system. By examining how our brains process language and find patterns, the intricacies of the language system itself, and even scientific breakthroughs in computer science and artificial intelligence, Keeping Those Words in Mind brings a brand new and interdisciplinary explanation for our ability to extract meaning from language.
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Dive Into the Fun Facts Behind Names and Word OriginsThe best-selling book is back in it's second volume with more names, more words, and even more in-between than before! What's in a name? The answer is far more complex and interesting than you may think. From the person behind the popular Youtube channel, NameExplain, comes the second volume of his best-selling book The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between . This new book is a fun, interesting and educational journey through the world of etymology. It covers a huge array of names from a variety of topic areas, and includes a bunch of random facts behind the names. From first names, to bodies of water-there's no name big or small, important or obscure that won't be explained. Find fun facts. Presented in a light and entertaining manner, The Origin of Names compels you to learn a ton of things you didn't know you wanted to know. Unlike a dictionary, everything in this book is easy to understand and can be read from start to finish, or in short bursts. It's also a lot more fun to read-Patrick explains each name with jokes and quips you're bound to enjoy, and it's full of pictures too! Be the know-it-all you always wanted to be. In The Origin of Names you'll: � Learn fascinating word origins and bizarre name meanings � Be able to entertain yourself and friends with random facts � Gain honor and renown for your unrivaled knowledge of etymologyIf you enjoyed books like Interesting Stories For Curious People, Stuff You Should Know, or The Great Book of American Idioms, then you'll love The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between: Volume II .
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An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of French. Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too! - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in French for Intermediate Learners has been written especially for students from a low-intermediate to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to B1-B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you and give you a feeling of progress when reading.
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500 Beautiful Words You Should now is for you. It offers words that flow EXQUISITELY off the tongue; words that are just perfect for their meaning, like the lazy-sounding SLOTH and the heavy-footed GALUMPH; words that will make you sound clever, like DEUTERAGONIST and LETHOLOGICA; and words that are just fun to say, like LIQUEFACTION and LUXURIATE.It'll tell you where they come from, how to use them and whether you're likely to BAMBOOZLE anyone who's listening to you. With occasional special features on great words for colours, words from the Classics and words that make you laugh, this is a book to delight BIBLIOPHILES and BLATHERSKITES alike.
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An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of Russian. "Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley,PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners has been written especially for students from a low-intermediate to intermediate level,designed to give a sense of achievement,and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to B1-B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? · Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres,from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary · Controlled language at your level, to help you progress confidently · Realistic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability · Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way · Beautiful illustrations accompanying each story, to set the scene and support your understanding · Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' With intriguing plots that will spark your imagination and keep you reading,Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners will take your grasp of Russian to the next level with key features to support and consolidate your progress, including: · A glossary for bold-face words in each text · A bilingual word list · Full plot summary · Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoyingreading in Cyrillic,delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language,without ever feeling overwhelmed. From science fiction to fantasy,to crime and thrillers,Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners uses reading as the perfect tool to not only delight in learning Russian and reading Cyrillic, but to accelerate your journey towards fluency. These stories are appropriate for Intermediate Low-Mid ACTFL levels. Use the codes inside the book and ebook to access a bonus story for free and the discounted audiobook on our Language Readers Library site or on the Language Readers app.
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An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of German. "Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley,PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners has been written especially for students from a low-intermediate to intermediate level,designed to give a sense of achievement,and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to B1-B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? · Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres,from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary · Controlled language at your level, to help you progress confidently · Realistic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability · Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way · Beautiful illustrations accompanying each story, to set the scene and support your understanding · Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' With intriguing plots that will spark your imagination and keep you reading,Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners will take your grasp of German to the next level with key features to support and consolidate your progress, including: · A glossary for bold-face words in each text · A bilingual word list · Full plot summary · Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoyingreading,delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language,without ever feeling overwhelmed. From science fiction to fantasy,to crime and thrillers,Short Stories in German for Intermediate Learners uses reading as the perfect tool to not only delight in learning German, but to accelerate your journey towards fluency. These stories are appropriate for intermediate low-mid ACTFL levels Use the codes inside the book and ebook to access a bonus story for free and the discounted audiobook on our Language Readers Library site or on the Language Readers app.
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From an award-winning writer and linguist, a scientific and personal meditation on the phenomenon of language loss and the possibility of renewal. As a child Julie Sedivy left Czechoslovakia for Canada, and English soon took over her life. By early adulthood she spoke Czech rarely and badly, and when her father died unexpectedly, she lost not only a beloved parent but also her firmest point of connection to her native language. As Sedivy realized, more is at stake here than the loss of language: there is also the loss of identity. Language is an important part of adaptation to a new culture, and immigrants everywhere face pressure to assimilate. Recognizing this tension, Sedivy set out to understand the science of language loss and the potential for renewal. In Memory Speaks, she takes on the psychological and social world of multilingualism, exploring the human brain's capacity to learn-and forget-languages at various stages of life. But while studies of multilingual experience provide resources for the teaching and preservation of languages, Sedivy finds that the challenges facing multilingual people are largely political. Countering the widespread view that linguistic pluralism splinters loyalties and communities, Sedivy argues that the struggle to remain connected to an ancestral language and culture is a site of common ground, as people from all backgrounds can recognize the crucial role of language in forming a sense of self. Distinctive and timely, Memory Speaks combines a rich body of psychological research with a moving story at once personal and universally resonant. As citizens debate the merits of bilingual education, as the world's less dominant languages are driven to extinction, and as many people confront the pain of language loss, this is badly needed wisdom.
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Looking for an alternative word to 'bullsh*t'? Then try taradiddle. A Word for Every Day of the Year is a fascinating collection of 366 words and their definitions, perfect for anyone who loves the richness of the English language, its diversity and wants to expand their vocabulary. Each day offers a rare and remarkable word with its history and definition and occasionally a challenge to include it in our lives.
