Language Shock - by Michael H Agar (Paperback)

About the Book

This guide to understanding the culture of conversation is by one of America's foremost linguistic anthropologists. In a fascinating journey through the meaning of language--and the relationship of language to culture--Michael Agar sheds new light on the oceans of language, showing how to keep afloat even when faced with something that seems overwhelmingly foreign.

Book Synopsis

The key to communication, says linguistic anthropologist Michael Agar, is understanding the context and culture of conversation. In Language Shock, Agar reveals how deeply our language and cultural values intertwine to define who we are and how we relate to one another. From paying an electric bill in Austria to opening a bank account in Mexico to handling a parking ticket in the United States, he shows how routine tasks become lessons in the subtleties of conversation when we venture outside our cultural sphere. With humorous, insightful stories from his extensive travels, Agar engages us in a lively study of "languaculture" and enriches our view of the world.

Review Quotes

"Friendly, wry, and clever . . . Agar takes us with him to India, Austria, and Mexico-with junkies and truckers--introducing us to languaculture, the inextricable interrelation between language and culture." -- Deborah Tannen, Ph.D., author of "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation; " University Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University"An engaging summary of important studies in linguistic anthropology." -- "The Washington Post Book World""Perceptive . . . A stimulating personal reflection on the complexities of communication between people, in whatever language or culture" -- "Kirkus Reviews""If you have no time to read more than one book on a linguistic topic a year, try this one." -- "The Times" (London)"Agar offers a really useful new way of thinking about how we human beings 'communicate.'" -- Linda Schele, author of "A Forest of Kings""Michael Agar's book allows much insight into the very complex relationship of language culture, and society. It is exciting to read!" -- Ruth Wodak, University Professor, The Linguistics Institute, University of Vienna, Austria