Are you the sort of person with an etymological dictionary to hand at all times? Or have you never stopped to consider the origin of the words we use everyday? As part of the 'For Learning, For Life' series of talks from Blackwell's, Simon Horobin introduces his new book Bagels, Bumf and Buses: A Day in the Life of the English Language, which takes the reader on a journey through a typical day, showing how the words we use to describe routine activities - getting up, going to work, eating meals - have surprisingly fascinating histories.
Simon is Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Magdalen College, and no stranger to the vagaries of English and its incredibly wide-ranging origins. The 'For Learning For Life' talks are all free and cover a whole range of subjects, including fiction and non-fiction titles. Everyone is welcome, but please register in advance, and be aware that there are steps, and seating is limited. It's a great way to gear up for the Literary Festival to hear some experts and best-selling authors on their favourite subjects, all free of charge.
