Titoli in Etimologia

Marco Balzano racconta la storia delle parole, dai Sumeri allo smartphone. Tra racconti, aneddoti e curiosità, ripercorriamo la storia più antica di tutte nei cambiamenti che hanno investito la società e la nostra comunicazione. Le parole: le pronunciamo, le ascoltiamo, le scriviamo e le leggiamo. Ma cosa sappiamo davvero di loro? Passando dalla pietra allo schermo, nel corso dei secoli, le parole sono state le armi dei potenti e il vessillo dei ribelli, hanno portato disgrazia e fortuna, nascosto segreti e rivelato verità, hanno avuto il potere di uccidere e di fare innamorare.

Surprising, entertaining, and illuminating, this is a must-listen for armchair travelers and word nerds. Our dictionaries are full of hidden histories, tales, and adventures from all over the world - if you know where to look. 

There are no direct records of the original Indo-European speech. By comparing the vocabularies of its various descendants, however, it is possible to reconstruct the basic Indo-European roots with considerable confidence. In The Origins of English Words, Shipley catalogues these proposed roots and follows the often devious, always fascinating, process by which some of their offshoots have grown.

Martha Barnette has spent two decades as the co-host of A Way with Words, lauded by Mary Norris in The New Yorker as “a virtual treasure house” and “‘Car Talk’ for Lexiphiles.” Over that time, she’s developed a keen sense of what fascinates people about language. They are curious about etymology and revel in slang, are surprised by regional vocabulary and celebrate linguistic diversity. Idioms both puzzle and delight word lovers, and they are eager to share family neologisms and that weird phrase Grandma always used to say.

Uncover the chaotic linguistic history behind our everyday vocabulary, tracing how empires and internet culture collide. Perfect for an engaging morning commute, this energetic exploration transforms grammar quirks and spelling chaos into a fascinating narrative of human survival and adaptation...

Explore the linguistic history of an ancient tongue that secretly dictates modern law, science, and everyday culture. Perfect for your daily commute, this enlightening journey transports you from the muddy markets of Rome to candlelit scriptoria without ever feeling like a dry grammar drill...

Uncover the gripping evolution of human speech in this narrative history that turns linguistics into an epic adventure. Perfect for a curious commute or a lifelong learning journey, this immersive exploration traces our everyday vocabulary back to ancient battlefields and forgotten tribes...

From classic poetry to pop lyrics, from Charles Dickens to Dolly Parton, even from Jesus to James Bond, Mark Forsyth explains the secrets that make a phrase—such as “O Captain! My Captain!” or “To be or not to be”—memorable. In his inimitably entertaining and wonderfully witty style...

A poetic treasury of spiritual insight, The Language of the Soul uncovers the original meanings of words to help us remember what it means to be fully alive This program is read by the author. For poet and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo, words have always been more than tools for...

'Moving, beautiful and important' FINANCIAL TIMES, BEST SUMMER BOOKS 2026 'Punchy and persuasive' SUNDAY TIMES As Sophia Smith Galer’s Nonna lay dying, she realised it wasn’t just a beloved grandmother she was losing – it was the language she spoke, too. From Northern Italy, she spoke a...

The history of a language is the history of the people who speak it, those who read and write it, and those who come into contact with it. Now, this series invites you to explore your heritage from an unconventional angle: through the origin and development of the English language. Leading your expedition is Christopher R. Fee, an award-winning professor and medievalist whose expertise spans Old English, Old Norse, and historical linguistics. With flair and gusto, he draws from this well of knowledge to help you trace the evolution of English across a fascinating range of cultures.

With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog...

In 2003, the book Nigger started an intense conversation about the uses and implications of that epithet. The N Word moves beyond that short, provocative book by revealing how the word has both reflected and spread the scourge of bigotry in America.

O palavrão é parte viva da língua brasileira: divertido, explosivo, às vezes ofensivo, mas sempre carregado de força e significado. Este dicionário reúne, de forma inédita, os principais palavrões usados no Brasil, explorando suas origens, sentidos, contextos e até mesmo a intensidade de cada um através da inovadora Escala Fascinare. Mais do que um simples compilado de termos, esta obra é um mergulho na criatividade popular, no humor e na irreverência que fazem parte do nosso jeito de falar.

From the history of the English language's arrival in the United States to the spread of Arabic across North Africa and the enduring legacy of the Latin language, Immigrant Tongues explores the journeys of tongues across continents. With a style that balances entertainment and depth, this...

It is True Dickinson's forty-third birthday, and her best friends have gathered on this snowy night in Cape Cod at a trendy neighborhood restaurant to celebrate. True has never felt more alone. It's been eight years since the death of her husband, leaving her to raise their son on her own. Both...

Ali G: How many words does you know? Noam Chomsky: Normally, humans, by maturity, have tens of thousands of them. Ali G: What is some of 'em? — Youtube.com After forty years of making a living using words in every medium, print or electronic, except greeting cards, Roy Blount Jr. still can't...

El amor por las palabras continúa... Después del éxito de La fascinante historia de las palabras, llega Palabras fabulosas. Una recopilación con más de 500 nuevas entradas, analizadas con la calma del silólogo, la curiosidad silenciosa del lexicógrafo y la intención pedagógica que nace...

Las palabras viajan a través del tiempo y de las culturas, siempre yendo de libro en libro y de boca en boca. Y en ese viaje eterno, algunas sobreviven y otras fallece; entre las que conocemos y las que ignoramos, entre las que están desgastadas por su uso continuo y las que se encuentran...

La fascinante historia de las palabras presenta su contenido como una aventura que refleja la evolución humana y cultural. Abarca diferentes ámbitos en los que las palabras se convierten en una música cargada de significado, arrastran historias, evoluciones y mutaciones. Presenta personajes...