SKU: 97991821041

Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth about Language

Sale price$21.38 Regular price$23.76
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.94 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 13 - Aug 18

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth about LanguageThink you know language? Think again. There are languages that change when your mother in law is present. The language you speak could make you more prone to accidents. Swear words are produced in a special part of your brain. Over the past few decades, we have reached new frontiers of linguistic knowledge. Linguists can now explain how and why language changes, describe its structures, and map its activity in the brain. But despite these advances,

Think you know language? Think again.

  • There are languages that change when your mother-in-law is present.
  • The language you speak could make you more prone to accidents.
  • Swear words are produced in a special part of your brain.

Over the past few decades, we have reached new frontiers of linguistic knowledge. Linguists can now explain how and why language changes, describe its structures, and map its activity in the brain. But despite these advances, much of what people believe about language is based on folklore, instinct, or hearsay. We imagine a word's origin is it's "true" meaning, that foreign languages are full of "untranslatable" words, or that grammatical mistakes undermine English.

In Don't Believe A Word, linguist David Shariatmadari takes us on a mind-boggling journey through the science of language, urging us to abandon our prejudices in a bid to uncover the (far more interesting) truth about what we do with words.

Exploding nine widely held myths about language while introducing us to some of the fundamental insights of modern linguistics, Shariatmadari is an energetic guide to the beauty and quirkiness of humanity's greatest achievement.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 01/07/2020
ISBN: 9781324004257
Pages: 336
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.30w x 1.10d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 10/14/2019
Kirkus Reviews 10/15/2019
Booklist 12/15/2019 pg. 85
Shelf Awareness 01/31/2020
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 97991821041

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.5 ★★★★★
Based on 5 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
R
Verified Purchase
ruby
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 4
Good for oily skin/not overly drying!
Love this!! My skin actually feels a lot less oily during the day and it doesn’t dry my skin out either. The smell is a tiny bit weird but it doesn’t really bother me and it dissipates quickly after applying.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2025
S
Verified Purchase
sydney ellis
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Uhhhh it works?!
i’m 25 yr old girl and i’ve always had very very oily skin, to the point where i have charcoal oil absorbing pads that i use on a daily to help with oil control, i seen this product and i’ve been using it for less than a week at morning and at night and my skin is WAY less oily than it was a week ago, im actually so surprised this worked for me a lot of products let me down
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Mike Wright
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Good shine balancer
Fights shine on oily skin almost all day
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2026
N
Verified Purchase
Nae B.
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Not for me
This in combination with the aloe-ph balancing face wash was not a good fit for my skin. It had me break out with cystic acne. I went back to Hydro Boost and it cleared up in a week. But that’s for my skin. Also, I didn’t care for the consistency of the product.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2025
C
Verified Purchase
Cyn M.
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
A game-changer for oily and combo skin!
Okay, I did not expect to love this toner as much as I do but wow, it completely changed my skin game! The jelly texture feels super luxe and refreshing, and it instantly calms my skin while keeping oil under control all day. My pores look smoother, my skin feels hydrated but not greasy, and it gives that fresh, healthy glow we all want. I’ve been using it morning and night and my complexion has never looked more even. If you have combo or oily skin, this one’s a total gem.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2025

recommand products