Jean Aitchison famous quotes
Last updated: Sep 5, 2024
-
Word meanings are like stretchy pullovers, whose outline contour is visible, but whose detailed shape varies with use.
-- Jean Aitchison -
Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there was never such a year. The language of Chaucer's or Shakespeare's time was no better and no worse than that of our own - just different.
-- Jean Aitchison
-
If the English language had been properly organized ... then there would be a word which meant both 'he' and 'she', and I could write, 'If John or Mary comes heesh will want to play tennis', which would save a lot of trouble.
-
Nature, not content with denying him the ability to think, has endowed him with the ability to write.
-
I’m not a fan of ‘write what you know.’ If you don’t know, find out. I knew nothing about the Bible before I started writing ‘The Year of Living Biblically.’ That was kind of the point – to learn.
-
I can write better than anyone who can write faster,
-
The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite. Without this, it is impossible to accumulate, within the allotted span, enough experience of eating to have anything worth setting down.
-
You're my present and my future Sadie, I will use whatever power I have to make you happy.
-
I advise students on the subject of color as follows: If it looks good enough to eat, use it.
-
There are lots of reasons why a woman stays with a man, even when she's given up on changing him and can predict with certainty the shape that the rest of her life with him is going to take.
-
The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew.
-
It's every lawyer's dream to help shape the law, not just react to it.
You may also like:
-
David Crystal
Author -
Guy Deutscher
Linguist -
Lynne Truss
Writer -
Steven Pinker
Psychologist