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Product Information

A fascinating view into the arcane nature of the workplace, Words at Work delves into fifteen professions--both ordinary and extraordinary--to discover the unique and colorful vocabulary that gives them their energy. The occupations are eclectic, from every day jobs like waste manager to singular positions like symphony orchestra musician; but the connections between words--which make you feel as though you're having a conversation with someone in the know--and Mim Harrison's skills as a writer, give readers an uncommon and highly perceptive glimpse into each of these worlds. Now you'll know what it means when the musician sheds the part (practices the music), the airline pilot mentions the wing walkers (the gate crew that guides your plane to a stop) and the waste manager yells out white goods (an appliance like a stove or refrigerator that is destined for the trash heap). Harrison is captivated by the singular vocabularies of these occupations and she shares her fascination with readers. Whether you're a linguaphile who has always been curious about the lingoes attached to professions, or starting out in one of the occupations and hoping to get a leg up on the vocabulary, Words at Work will both charm and educate. Mim Harrison has a unique ear for language, and a gifted light touch as a writer. That combination makes Words at Work a highly original entry in the crowded field of language books.

Product Identifiers

PublisherWalker & Company

ISBN-100802715680

ISBN-139780802715685

eBay Product ID (ePID)57159769

Product Key Features

Number of Pages144 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameWords at Work : an Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions

Publication Year2007

SubjectVocabulary, Référence

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaLanguage Arts & Disciplines

AuthorMim Harrison

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.7 in

Item Weight8.6 Oz

Item Length7.8 in

Item Width5.5 in

Additional Product Features

Reviews"I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, soWords That Workis a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." -Robert MacNeil,author ofDo You Speak Americanand co-author ofThe Story of English, "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so Words at Work is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." -- Robert MacNeil, author of Do You Speak American and co-author of The Story of English "Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." -- USA Today "Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years....Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick....Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)." -- Ralph De La Cruz, South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions ...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms." -- Chicago Tribune, I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so Words at Work is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk., "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so Wordsat Work is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." --Robert MacNeil , author of Do You Speak American and co-author of The Story of English "Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." - USA Today "Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years....Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick....Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)."-- Ralph De La Cruz, South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions ...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms."- Chicago Tribune, I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, soWords at Workis a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk."—Robert MacNeil,author ofDo You Speak Americanand co-author ofThe Story of English Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." –USA Today Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years….Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick….Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)."—Ralph De La Cruz,South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new bookWords at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms."-Chicago Tribune, " I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so "Words at Work" is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." -- Robert MacNeil, author of "Do You Speak American" and co-author of "The Story of English""" " Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." - "USA Today""" " Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years... .Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick... .Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)." -- Ralph De La Cruz, "South Florida Sun-Sentinel""" "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book "Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions, .."The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when youcan toss around terms."-"Chicago Tribune", "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so "Words at Work" is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." --Robert MacNeil, author of "Do You Speak American" and co-author of "The Story of English", Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial., What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions ...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms., "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so Words at Work is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." --Robert MacNeil , author of Do You Speak American and co-author of The Story of English "Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." - USA Today "Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for yearsâ€¦.Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quickâ€¦.Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)."-- Ralph De La Cruz, South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions ...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms."- Chicago Tribune, "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, soWords at Workis a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." -Robert MacNeil,author ofDo You Speak Americanand co-author ofThe Story of English, "I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, so Words at Work is a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk." --Robert MacNeil , author of Do You Speak American and co-author of The Story of English "Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial." - USA Today "Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years....Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick....Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector)."-- Ralph De La Cruz, South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new book Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions ...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms."- Chicago Tribune, Â"I love knowing how professionals in any business talk with each other, soWords at Workis a treat for word addicts like me, and a gift for anyone needing openers for small talk.Â"Â--Robert MacNeil,author ofDo You Speak Americanand co-author ofThe Story of English Â"Harrison loves the moments when workers talk a kind of shorthand to each other. She did interviews in 15 professions to pin down expressions...This isn't about jargon. That way of talking distances people from each other, she says. Professional language is collegial.Â" Â-USA Today Â"Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for yearsÂ'¦.Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quickÂ'¦.Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector).Â"Â--Ralph De La Cruz,South Florida Sun-Sentinel "What do you need to know to fly a plane, play a symphony or serve food? For starters, you need to know the lingo. Author Mim Harrison talked to experts in 15 professions for her new bookWords at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions...The book won't tell you how to do other people's jobs, but it will help you sound like an insider when you can toss around terms."-Chicago Tribune, Harrison, who obviously has a finely tuned writer's ear, has been picking up the nuances of work language for years....Harrison started with the most obvious, the ones we all think we know: restaurateurs, hoteliers, airline pilots, retailers. She goes beyond the easily recognizable terms and offers insight and background to familiar phrases. But if that was all there was to the book, it would get old quick....Harrison also throws in unusual jobs such as television promo producers, venture capitalists, microbiologists, magicians. And in a truly inspired act, placed perfume maker alongside waste manager (as in garbage collector).

Target AudienceTrade

IllustratedYes

Illustrated byPassarella, Lee