Limit search to available items
Book Cover
Book
Author Aitchison, Jean, 1938-

Title The word weavers : newshounds and wordsmiths / Jean Aitchison
Published Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007

Copies

Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 W'PONDS  070.4 Ait/Wwn  AVAILABLE
Description xvii, 257 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Series Cambridge approaches to linguistics
Cambridge approaches to linguistics.
Contents 1. Weaving and worrying : journalism versus literature? -- 2. Singers of tales : oral narrative -- 3. The tongue of the hand : speech and writing -- 4. Hangings, histories, marvels, mysteries : the birth of journalism -- 5. Calendars of roguery and woe : daily newspapers -- 6. Story-telling : narrating the news -- 7. Glimmering words : boiling down and polishing -- 8. Painting with words : imaginative creativity -- 9. Two ideas for one : exploring metaphor -- 10. The role of journalism : evaluating the views
Summary "Modern journalism is often the subject of criticism and opposition. Written by one of the foremost authorities on language and the media today, this book suggests that this view is unfair, and that journalists are in fact skilled 'word-weavers' whose output is cleverly worked into planned patterns. Drawing on a range of authentic news articles, it traces the development of journalism from its origins to the present day. Aitchison shows how contemporary news writers have inherited an age-old oral tradition, which over the centuries was incorporated into public notices, ballads and storybooks - eventually providing the basis of the journalism we see today. She argues that, while journalists have very different aims from literary writers, their work can in no way be regarded as inferior. Entertainingly written, The Word Weavers provides an insight into journalistic writing, and will be enjoyed by anybody wanting to know more about media language."--BOOK JACKET
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Subject Journalism and literature.
Journalism -- Technique.
LC no. 2006036799
ISBN 9780521832458 hardback alkaline paper
0521832454 hardback alkaline paper
9780521540070 paperback alkaline paper
0521540070 paperback alkaline paper