The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now ${{ price }} Send as a gift
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Language Lover's Lexipedia written and read by Joshua Blackburn

FROM THE INVENTOR OF THE LEAGUE OF THE LEXICON BOARDGAME – THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ALL WHO LOVE WORDS AND LANGUAGE.

'A word-lover's dream' Stephen Fry

Want to uncover the secret of Ikea product names? Learn the art of Scottish insults? Or understand why pedants are pedantic? Here you will find all this and more.

Part encyclopaedia, part miscellany, The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is a delightful tour of the world of words, from the origin of Abracadabra to Zyzzyva and the end of the dictionary. Meticulously researched and witfully written, each page is a lucky dip into the English language.

The Language-Lover’s Lexipedia is catnip for curious minds. Inside, you’ll find Scottish Insults (you’re talking mince), Elizabethan Colours (like Ape’s Laugh and Lustie Gallant), the dangerous history of the Index of Banned Books, unusual mealtimes, Technobabble and over a hundred words for Scottish rain. There’s even a Dictionary of Small Things. Each entry points to other entries, so after exploring one rabbit hole there’s always another to get lost in. See where they lead you.

This deliciously original book takes readers around the sidelines and leylines of language. You will be sure to come away armed with an arsenal of linguistic knowledge to impress and entertain in all sorts of useful – and not so useful – situations.

***

'This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff' Lynne Truss

'This is a magical book - all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!' Milton Jones

Critics Review

A word-lover's dream
Stephen Fry
This book is absolutely packed with fascinating stuff
Lynne Truss
Oh, Good God – it's all here. The answers to all your language questions answered 1) accurately and 2) hilariously
John McWhorter
This is a magical book – all you have to do is to pick it up and the morning disappears!
Milton Jones
Astonishingly, addictively entertaining
Benjamin Dreyer
The Language Lover’s Lexipedia is a veritable circus of words – words swinging from tent-tops, words teetering on tightropes, words jumping through flaming hoopla. Joshua Blackburn’s friendly, lucid style creates a treasure trove of learning dressed up to have fun.
Richard Lederer

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.