Adam Jacot De Boinod Libri

Questo libro raccoglie una serie di parole impossibili, definizioni intraducibili, poetiche o irrilevanti, che l'autore ha raccolto in più di 150 lingue del mondo. Termini che definiscono in modo estremamente preciso fatti e situazioni che nelle altre lingue richiedono lunghe perifrasi: dai 27 modi di chiamare i baffi in albanese alla parola indonesiana che definisce "l'incontrollabile abitudine di dire cose imbarazzanti", al caso del giapponese ageotori, che esprime il concetto di "tagliare i capelli a qualcuno in occasione di una cerimonia ufficiale, e ottenere l'effetto contrario di peggiorare il suo aspetto".

From 'shotclog', a Yorkshire term for a companion only tolerated because he is paying for the drinks, to Albanian having 29 words to describe different kinds of eyebrows, the languages of the world are full of amazing, amusing and illuminating words and expressions that will improve absolutely everybody's quality of life. All they need is this book!This bumper volume gathers all three of Adam Jacot de Boinod's acclaimed books about language - The Wonder of Whiffling, The Meaning of Tingo and Toujours Tingo (their fans include everyone from Stephen Fry to Michael Palin) - into one highly entertaining, keenly priced compendium. As Mariella Frostup said 'You'll never be lost for words again!'

"The Wonder of Whiffling" is a hugely enjoyable, surprising and rewarding tour around the language of the British Isles (with plenty of fine coinages from our English-speaking cousins across the pond, Down Under and elsewhere). Discover all sorts of words you've always wished existed but never knew, such as fornale, to spend one's money before it has been earned; cagg, a solemn vow or resolution not to get drunk for a certain time; and petrichor, the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell. Delving passionately into the English language, Adam Jacot de Boinod also discovers why it is you wouldn't want to have dinner with a vice admiral of the narrow seas, why Jacobites toasted the little gentleman in black velvet, and why a Nottingham Goodnight is better than one from anywhere else.