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Or you can call your closest Unity Books store: \nWellington 04 499 4245\nAuckland 09 307 0731",[990],{"_8":983,"_10":148,"_149":984},"I have faulty products, who should I contact?",{"_8":993,"_10":951,"_936":994,"_219":1011},"70ac585fe889",[995,1003],{"_8":996,"_10":63,"_64":997,"_72":1002,"_16":160},"aee5732c0b84",[998],{"_8":999,"_10":68,"_69":1000,"_37":1001},"999161abc3530",[],"We offer a range of shipping options covering delivery within New Zealand and internationally. Plus pick-up in store. Shipping is calculated at checkout. \n\nFor estimated delivery times please contact the store. Store details can be found on the contact page.",[],{"_8":1004,"_10":63,"_64":1005,"_72":1010,"_16":160},"9f372851ad8a",[1006],{"_8":1007,"_10":68,"_69":1008,"_37":1009},"e6578f2654410",[],"Thanks!",[],"What are my different shipping options?","relatedProducts",[1014,1104,1195,1271],{"_123":1015,"_17":1016,"_735":1017,"_758":-5,"_811":1018,"_762":1088},"gid://shopify/Product/8368056991941","Schott's Significa An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language","schotts-significa-an-unexpectedly-essential-guide-to-language",[1019,1020,1022,1024,1026,1027,1029,1030,1032,1034,1036,1038,1039,1040,1042,1044,-5,-5,1047,1049,1051,1053,1054,1055,1056,1057,1058,1060,1062,1064,1065,1067,1069,1070,1072,1073,1074,1076,1077,1078,1079,1080,1081,1082,1083,-5,1084,1085,1086,1087],{"_814":815,"_816":17,"_787":1016},{"_814":815,"_816":818,"_787":1021},"SCHOTT BEN",{"_814":815,"_816":821,"_787":1023},"HB",{"_814":815,"_816":824,"_787":1025},"MICHAE",{"_814":815,"_816":827,"_787":828},{"_814":815,"_816":830,"_787":1028},"MAIN",{"_814":833,"_816":834,"_787":835},{"_814":833,"_816":17,"_787":1031},"Schott's Significa",{"_814":833,"_816":839,"_787":1033},"An Unexpectedly Essential Guide to Language",{"_814":833,"_816":818,"_787":1035},"Ben Schott",{"_814":833,"_816":844,"_787":1037},"

'The Rosetta Stone for modern times'
Graydon Carter

'This truly remarkable book is quite unlike any other work of etymology or entertainment'
Andrew Roberts

'Ben Schott ... cannot write an inelegant sentence'
The Times

---------------

SCHOTT IS BACK - and better than ever. From the mind that created the million-copy bestseller Schott's Original Miscellany comes an indispensable field guide to the hidden lore and language of our modern age.

When do London cabbies take oranges and lemons?
How do marmalade droppers sell newspapers?
Who eats the forbidden brownie at Starbucks?

Secret languages surround us. From graffiti writers, gondoliers, and gym rats to spies, sneakerheads, and Swifties -- every group creates a private lingo of jargon and gesture that eludes the rest of the world.

Not anymore.

In Schott's Significa, Ben Schott -- bestselling author and master curator of the ungoogleable -- unlocks 53 of the most intriguing linguistic subcultures, including: casinos and crypto, doctors and dog walkers, bartenders and typographers, stunt performers and church ushers, paparazzi snappers and competitive eaters.

Painstakingly researched, lavishly illustrated and exquisitely designed, Schott's Significa is not just a miscellany of secret languages but a celebration of the power of communication, the joy of connection and the delight of discovery.

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Whatever you need, Susie Dent has a word for it.

Do you know the name for someone who loves reading in bed, or what a binfluencer does? How about the medieval invention of Lubberland as a place for lazy teenagers, or the story of Mayday as a request for help? Lexicographer extraordinaire and Queen of Countdown's Dictionary Corner, Susie Dent does and here are her greatest discoveries.

From wabbit to dust bunnies, and from the strange history of arse to the best ways to describe moonlight, Words for Life offers a full year's supply of verbal vitamins guaranteed to brighten and boost every day. Here you will learn of the Mother-in-Law's Dream as well as the Yuleshard, and discover expressions that can fix (or at least nail) the problems of modern life, whether dealing with unrequited love or unsatisfactory politicians, eating a whole packet of biscuits or forgetting someone's name.

From starting January 1 with your best foot forward (qualtagh) to leaping happily into the unknown (with a drink in your hand) on 31 December, here is the perfect guide to ensure your best year yet - and 365 words you'll want to keep for life.

",{"_814":833,"_816":846,"_787":1130},"College Audience",{"_814":833,"_816":849,"_787":1132},"Hodder & Stoughton",{"_814":833,"_816":821,"_787":1134},"UK-Trade Paper",{"_814":833,"_816":854,"_787":855},{"_814":833,"_816":1045,"_787":1046},{"_814":833,"_816":860,"_787":1138},"2025-09-11",{"_814":833,"_816":863,"_787":1140},"352",{"_814":833,"_816":824,"_787":1142},"John Murray",{"_814":866,"_816":344,"_787":867},{"_814":866,"_816":724,"_787":867},{"_814":866,"_816":870,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":873,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":875,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":877,"_787":1149},"11/02/2026",{"_814":866,"_816":880,"_787":1151},"06/11/2025",{"_814":866,"_816":883,"_787":1153},"40.0",{"_814":866,"_816":885,"_787":1153},{"_814":866,"_816":887,"_787":1066},{"_814":866,"_816":890,"_787":1157},"26",{"_814":892,"_816":893,"_787":1071},{"_814":892,"_816":344,"_787":1071},{"_814":892,"_816":724,"_787":743},{"_814":892,"_816":897,"_787":1075},{"_814":892,"_816":899,"_787":1075},{"_814":892,"_816":901,"_787":742},{"_814":892,"_816":903,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":906,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":908,"_787":904},{"_814":892,"_816":910,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":913,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":915,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":917,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":920,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":922,"_787":923},{"_814":892,"_816":925,"_787":923},{"_814":892,"_816":927,"_787":923},{"_764":1176},[1177],{"_767":109,"_768":-5,"_123":1178,"_203":1179,"_778":1183,"_784":1184,"_17":1106,"_788":1186,"_790":1187},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/45067749163205",{"_771":1180,"_773":774,"_123":1181,"_760":1109,"_776":1182},"Words for Life Cover Image","gid://shopify/ProductImage/39306607820997",1273,{"_780":781,"_782":1153},[1185],{"_747":748,"_787":1106},"9781399833233",{"_792":1188},[1189,1192],{"_795":1190},{"_797":109,"_126":1191},{"_747":341},{"_795":1193},{"_797":109,"_126":1194},{"_747":722},{"_123":1196,"_17":1197,"_735":1198,"_758":1199,"_811":1201,"_762":1254},"gid://shopify/Product/8409200820421","Like: A History of the World's Most Hated (& Misunderstood) Word","like-a-history-of-the-worlds-most-hated-misunderstood-word",{"_760":1200},"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0625/6679/3413/files/978-0-06-341528-7.jpg?v=1756332652",[1202,1203,1205,1206,-5,1208,1210,1211,1213,1215,1217,1219,1220,1222,1223,1224,-5,1225,1227,1229,1231,-5,1233,-5,1234,1235,-5,1236,-5,1238,-5,1240,1242,-5,1243,1244,-5,1245,1246,-5,1247,1248,-5,1249,1250,-5,1251,1252,-5,1253],{"_814":815,"_816":17,"_787":1197},{"_814":815,"_816":818,"_787":1204},"REYNOLDS MEGAN C.",{"_814":815,"_816":821,"_787":1023},{"_814":815,"_816":824,"_787":1207},"FARSHO",{"_814":815,"_816":830,"_787":1209},"HEDS",{"_814":833,"_816":834,"_787":835},{"_814":833,"_816":17,"_787":1212},"Like",{"_814":833,"_816":839,"_787":1214},"A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word",{"_814":833,"_816":818,"_787":1216},"Megan C. Reynolds",{"_814":833,"_816":844,"_787":1218},"

A comprehensive and thought-provoking investigation into one of the most polarizing words in the English language.

Few words in the English language are as misunderstood as \"like.\" Indeed, excessive use of this word is a surefire way to make those who pride themselves on propriety, both grammatical and otherwise, feel compelled to issue correctives.

But what the detractors of this word fail to understand is its true function and versatility--as an exclamation, a filler of space, a means of subtle emphasis, and more. \"Like\" may have started out as slang, but it is now an intrinsic component of fun, serious, and altogether nurturing communication. And like any colloquialism, the word endears the speaker to its audience; a conversation full of likes feels more casual, despite its content.

In this book, culture writer and editor for Dwell magazine Megan C. Reynolds takes us through the unique etymology and usage of this oft-reviled word, highlighting how it is often used to undermine people who are traditionally seen as having less status in society--women, younger people, people from specific subcultures--and how, if thought about differently, it might open up a new way of communication and validation. Written in a breezy yet informative and engaging style, this is a must-read for anyone who considers themselves a grammarian, a lover of language, and an advocate for the marginalized in discussions of cultural capital, power, and progress.

",{"_814":833,"_816":846,"_787":847},{"_814":833,"_816":849,"_787":1221},"HarperCollins Publishers",{"_814":833,"_816":821,"_787":1041},{"_814":833,"_816":854,"_787":1043},{"_814":833,"_816":1045,"_787":1046},{"_814":833,"_816":857,"_787":1226},"LANGUAGE: REFERENCE & GENERAL",{"_814":833,"_816":860,"_787":1228},"2025-07-01",{"_814":833,"_816":863,"_787":1230},"256",{"_814":833,"_816":824,"_787":1232},"HarperOne",{"_814":866,"_816":724,"_787":867},{"_814":866,"_816":873,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":875,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":880,"_787":1237},"17/12/2025",{"_814":866,"_816":885,"_787":1239},"65.0",{"_814":866,"_816":890,"_787":1241},"3",{"_814":892,"_816":893,"_787":743},{"_814":892,"_816":724,"_787":743},{"_814":892,"_816":897,"_787":742},{"_814":892,"_816":901,"_787":742},{"_814":892,"_816":903,"_787":904},{"_814":892,"_816":908,"_787":904},{"_814":892,"_816":910,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":915,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":917,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":920,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":922,"_787":923},{"_814":892,"_816":927,"_787":923},{"_764":1255},[1256],{"_767":109,"_768":-5,"_123":1257,"_203":1258,"_778":1262,"_784":1263,"_17":1197,"_788":1265,"_790":1266},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/45047860854981",{"_771":1259,"_773":774,"_123":1260,"_760":1200,"_776":1261},"Like Cover Image","gid://shopify/ProductImage/39240032288965",1356,{"_780":781,"_782":1239},[1264],{"_747":748,"_787":1197},"9780063415287",{"_792":1267},[1268],{"_795":1269},{"_797":109,"_126":1270},{"_747":722},{"_123":1272,"_17":1273,"_735":1274,"_758":1275,"_811":1277,"_762":1327},"gid://shopify/Product/8772983390405","Wordslut","wordslut-a-feminist-guide-to-taking-back-the-english-language",{"_760":1276},"https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0625/6679/3413/files/978-1-76064-095-8.jpg?v=1773865147",[1278,1280,1282,1283,-5,1285,1286,1287,1288,1290,1292,1294,1295,1297,1298,-5,-5,1299,1301,1303,1304,-5,1306,-5,1307,1308,-5,1309,-5,1311,-5,1313,1315,-5,1316,1317,-5,1318,1319,-5,1320,1321,-5,1322,1323,-5,1324,1325,-5,1326],{"_814":815,"_816":17,"_787":1279},"Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language",{"_814":815,"_816":818,"_787":1281},"MONTELL AMANDA",{"_814":815,"_816":821,"_787":1115},{"_814":815,"_816":824,"_787":1284},"NERO",{"_814":815,"_816":830,"_787":831},{"_814":833,"_816":834,"_787":835},{"_814":833,"_816":17,"_787":1273},{"_814":833,"_816":839,"_787":1289},"A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language",{"_814":833,"_816":818,"_787":1291},"Amanda Montell",{"_814":833,"_816":844,"_787":1293},"A brash, enlightening and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us.

English is scattered with perfectly innocuous words that have devolved into insults hurled at women. The word \"bitch\" originally meant male or female genitalia. \"Hussy\" was simply a housewife, and \"slut\" was an untidy man or woman.

Feminist linguist Amanda Montell explains why words matter and why it's imperative that women embrace their unique relationship with language. Drawing on fascinating research, and moving between history and pop culture, Montell deconstructs language - from insults and cursing to grammar and pronunciation - to expose the ways it has been used for centuries to gaslight women. Montell's irresistible intelligence and humour make linguistics not only approachable but downright enthralling.

Wordslut gets to the heart of our language, sheds light on the biases that shadow women in our culture and shows how to embrace language to verbally smash the patriarchy.

\"I get so jazzed about the future of feminism knowing that Montell's brilliance is rising up and about to explode worldwide.\" -JILL SOLOWAY",{"_814":833,"_816":846,"_787":847},{"_814":833,"_816":849,"_787":1296},"Black Inc.",{"_814":833,"_816":821,"_787":1134},{"_814":833,"_816":854,"_787":855},{"_814":833,"_816":857,"_787":1300},"LINGUISTICS; FEMINISM & FEMINIST THEORY",{"_814":833,"_816":860,"_787":1302},"2019-06-04",{"_814":833,"_816":863,"_787":1050},{"_814":833,"_816":824,"_787":1305},"Nero",{"_814":866,"_816":724,"_787":867},{"_814":866,"_816":873,"_787":835},{"_814":866,"_816":875,"_787":871},{"_814":866,"_816":880,"_787":1310},"12/01/2026",{"_814":866,"_816":885,"_787":1312},"45.0",{"_814":866,"_816":890,"_787":1314},"0",{"_814":892,"_816":893,"_787":743},{"_814":892,"_816":724,"_787":743},{"_814":892,"_816":897,"_787":742},{"_814":892,"_816":901,"_787":742},{"_814":892,"_816":903,"_787":904},{"_814":892,"_816":908,"_787":904},{"_814":892,"_816":910,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":915,"_787":911},{"_814":892,"_816":917,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":920,"_787":918},{"_814":892,"_816":922,"_787":923},{"_814":892,"_816":927,"_787":923},{"_764":1328},[1329],{"_767":109,"_768":-5,"_123":1330,"_203":1331,"_778":1335,"_784":1336,"_17":1279,"_788":1338,"_790":1339},"gid://shopify/ProductVariant/45973908390085",{"_771":1332,"_773":774,"_123":1333,"_760":1276,"_776":1334},"Wordslut Cover Image","gid://shopify/ProductImage/41624656281797",1338,{"_780":781,"_782":1312},[1337],{"_747":748,"_787":1279},"9781760640958",{"_792":1340},[1341],{"_795":1342},{"_797":109,"_126":1343},{"_747":722},"relatedProductsCollectionUrl","/collections/shop-all?shopify_products%5BrefinementList%5D%5Bmeta.categories.sub_merged%5D%5B0%5D=LANGUAGE+%26+LINGUISTICS","relatedProductsFirstSubCategory","city","columbus","actionData","errors"]

The Mother Tongue

English and How It Got That Way

by Bill Bryson