Words; Their Use and Abuse

audiobook

Words; Their Use and Abuse

by William Mathews

EN·~14 hours·21 chapters

Chapters

21 total
1

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

0:12
2

WORDS; THEIR USE AND ABUSE.

4:02
3

PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION.

3:43
4

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WORDS.

1:49:15
5

THE MORALITY IN WORDS.

1:17:46
6

GRAND WORDS.

1:00:21
7

SMALL WORDS.

33:36
8

WORDS WITHOUT MEANING.

32:59
9

SOME ABUSES OF WORDS.

29:58
10

SAXON WORDS, OR ROMANIC?

29:30

Description

In this thoughtful survey of language, the author invites listeners to linger over the hidden life of words. Drawing on quotations from poets, philosophers, and scholars, the opening pages frame speech as both a vessel for thought and a force that shapes societies. The narrative asks us to consider how a single syllable can lift a nation or wound a soul.

The main body unfolds chapter by chapter, guiding us through the origins of common terms, the quirks of onomatopoeia, and the power of personal names. Alongside lively anecdotes, the writer offers practical tips for sharpening one’s own diction and avoiding the pitfalls of careless usage. With a clear, conversational tone, the work feels like a private lecture that rewards the curious ear with fresh appreciation for every sentence we speak.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

en

Duration

~14 hours (852K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Turgut Dincer, John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

2018-10-14

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

WM

William Mathews

1818–1909

A lively 19th-century essayist, editor, and teacher, he wrote about books, language, conversation, and public speaking with an eye for practical wisdom. His work moves easily between literary culture and everyday self-improvement, which gives it an inviting, conversational feel even now.

View all books

You may also like