This book will give learners of English the confidence to address people appropriately in a wide variety of situations. It will also help them to understand what is implied when an English speaker uses a particular way of addressing someone. These topics are entirely neglected in most courses and textbooks, and there is no other reference work on the subject. Anyone who is fascinated by words will also find much here of interest. A wealth of historical, sociological and etymological information is set out in a highly readable style. Some 2,000 entries arranged in alphabetical order shed new light on familiar terms of address and present many curiosities. The author gives examples from a wide range of literature, particularly twentieth century novels, and provides an illuminating commentary on them.

`Here is a truly comprehsive treasure-house (2,000 entries) of those curious, endearing, abusive, formal and poetic terms of address English speakers, in Britain and the U.S.A. particularly, have been wont to call each other since Shakespeare's time, in public and private, in print and whisper ... an excellent scholarly treatment of this fascinating topic' - English Today

`This scholarly work deals with an aspect of mailing that has received nothing like the attention it deserves. One of the most valuable features of this study is the Introduction ... the volume is an original and entertaining compendium of facts and quotes.' - Adrian Room, Names

`Leslie Dunkling has produced a dictionary `which deals as comprehensively as possible with the terms of address ... used by English-speaking people'. It is of interest to native speakers of English, but it will be most useful to foreign students of English throughout the world.' - Contemporary Review

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 A Dictionary of Epithets and Terms of Address;

Reference works, dictionaries

Literature in general, reference works

Linguistics in general, dictionaries

Historical linguistics

Further languages

Monolingual dictionaries

Language textbooks

Language teaching

Journalism

Reference works, dictionaries (charity campaign)

Literature in general, reference works (charity campaign)

Linguistics in general, dictionaries (charity campaign)

Historical linguistics (charity campaign)

Further languages (charity campaign)

Monolingual dictionaries (charity campaign)

Language textbooks (charity campaign)

Language teaching (charity campaign)

Journalism (charity campaign)

A Dictionary of Epithets and Terms of Address

Why are speakers of English always calling each other names? This book is for those who want to explore the terms of address used in English. Presented in a highly readable form, it provides a guide to usage and much to entertain.