This book is a study of Japanese society through the understanding of the key terms and concepts that define their attitudes and behaviors. Westerners have traditionally been intrigued by Japanese attitudes and behaviors which have been perceived as ranging from cute, quaint, and seductive to strange and sometimes savage. The traditional dual character of the Japanese is generally attributed to cultural conditioning-strict conformity to standards...

Navigate every situation in modern life with eloquence and grace with this curated list of words featuring witty analysis of their origins, meanings and practical applications. In “On the Tip of My Tongue”, logophile and television star Tom Read Wilson takes a delicious dive into the etymology and usage of all kinds of words, euphemisms and bon mots. Divided into sections spanning dating, personal development, show business, compliments, curses,...

"Blimey, I'm Knackered is the perfect companion for anyone desiring to bridge the gap between US and UK English or who simply enjoys the evolution of language and culture. American scholar and longtime UK resident Marshall Hall has organized his insightful definitions and explanations of British idioms, colloquialisms, abbreviations, acronyms, and slang into nineteen entertaining and revealing chapters covering everything from transportation and food...

Have you ever wondered how England's pubs got their names? How did some of the more weird and wonderful ones come into being? What is the history behind such names as Blink Bonny, Bucket of Blood, Lamorna Wink and My Father's Moustache? England's pubs have always been at the heart of the community they serve and their names are instantly recognisable, even when taken out of context. Coming almost from a language of their own, these names all have...

Here is a book for anyone tired of speaking flat, colorless, homogenized English. Pennsylvania Dutchman Gary Gates provides a glossary, read-aloud section, songs, recipes, and more in this delightful, inwaluble introduction to Dutch-ified English. Learn the meaning of "rutch" and "spritz," what a "clod" and a "crotch" are, how to pronounce and make "Cussin Rachel's Snitz und Knepp," and what has happened to food when it's all. As you read this book...