Walter Nash – författare

First published in 1991, An Uncommon Tongue explores the theme of usage in its widest sense: usage as what we say or write; usage as a social question; usage as a literary convention; usage and creativity. The book reflects on the practice and status of the English language in the modern world and the demands it makes on its academic disciplines. It puts forward the argument that the study of usage transcends both the ‘prescriptive’ and ‘descriptive’ and is ultimately ‘constructive’, displaying the resources of language and exploring their use.

First published in 1991, An Uncommon Tongue explores the theme of usage in its widest sense: usage as what we say or write; usage as a social question; usage as a literary convention; usage and creativity. The book reflects on the practice and status of the English language in the modern world and the demands it makes on its academic disciplines. It puts forward the argument that the study of usage transcends both the ‘prescriptive’ and ‘descriptive’ and is ultimately ‘constructive’, displaying the resources of language and exploring their use.

First published in 1990, Language in Popular Fiction was written to provide a comprehensive and illuminating look at the way language is used in thrillers and romantic fiction. The book examines the use of language across three interrelated levels: a level of verbal organisation, a level of narrative structure, and a level at which stylistic options and devices are related to notions of gender. It introduces ‘the protocol of pulchritude’ and makes use of detailed stylistic and linguistic analysis to investigate a wide range of ‘popfiction’ and ‘magfiction’. In doing so, it provokes serious reflection on popular fiction and its claims on the reader.

First published in 1990, Language in Popular Fiction was written to provide a comprehensive and illuminating look at the way language is used in thrillers and romantic fiction. The book examines the use of language across three interrelated levels: a level of verbal organisation, a level of narrative structure, and a level at which stylistic options and devices are related to notions of gender. It introduces ‘the protocol of pulchritude’ and makes use of detailed stylistic and linguistic analysis to investigate a wide range of ‘popfiction’ and ‘magfiction’. In doing so, it provokes serious reflection on popular fiction and its claims on the reader.

Provides an explanation of what is involved in the creation of a text, offering the reader the basic requirements of composition, grammar and the lexicon. The general theory of composition is given in this text, together with numerous exercises and projects, including a chapter on the Internet.

Riddle: Why is a telescope like a bad excuse? Answer: Because anyone can see through it. The authors of this book would like to help anyone - but particularly students of English - to "see through" language, whether as the instrument of perception or as the evasive code. They write about texts, and the making of texts, and how texts are made to carry various kinds of meaning; and the topics they choose to write about range from the lexicon of car maintenance manuals to the role of grammatical modality in literary criticism. Their aim is to help students who may have little experience of linguistic studies to develop the articulate awareness of language that may subsequently be of service to them. The book has something to say about aesthetics, but it is not addressed to aesthetes; and much to say about the functions of language. One of its aims is to be of value to students and teachers of English by providing close and extensive readings of non-literary as well as literary texts. It is thus a demonstration of techniques and themes in stylistics, but it also has claims as a manual of self-defence for citizens beset by the salesmanship of words. Above all, it is concerned with creativeness, particularly as developed through the complementary processes of textual analysis and textual composition. The programme of exercises with which the book concludes is designed to enhance not only the student's understanding of various types of text, but also the ability to turn perception into productivity through the process of writing.

First published in 1986, this book examines the changing patterns in English usage and style. It encourages a constructive attitude to language, demonstrating the creative resources of grammar, discussing in detail the options of written style, and challenging the authoritarian spirit that inhibits usage. The central chapters are concerned with written usage, and pay close attention to questions of syntax and punctuation. The sense of writing, however, is always related to speech, and the value of usage as a social act is emphasised in the exploration of style as an individual function. Technical terms are explained and the text is illustrated with examples from literature and journalism.

First published in 1986, this book examines the changing patterns in English usage and style. It encourages a constructive attitude to language, demonstrating the creative resources of grammar, discussing in detail the options of written style, and challenging the authoritarian spirit that inhibits usage. The central chapters are concerned with written usage, and pay close attention to questions of syntax and punctuation. The sense of writing, however, is always related to speech, and the value of usage as a social act is emphasised in the exploration of style as an individual function. Technical terms are explained and the text is illustrated with examples from literature and journalism.