Shallow Water Dictionary: A Grounding in Estuary English FROM THE PUBLISHER
Shallow Water Dictionary is both a celebration of the richness of our vernacular language and a lament on its passing � and with it, the passing of the words we need to understand our shallow water regions, once the primary landscape of America and now facing extinction, both physical and linguistic. This small book is an intriguing and valuable addition to our knowledge of a changing landscape. Literary, etymological, historical, and vernacular investigations of such varied terms as "guzzle," "creek," and "chartreuse," Stilgoe's definitions are lyric explanations of words whose original meanings have been eroded by time.
Author Biography: John R. Stilgoe is the Robert and Lois Orchard Professor in the History of Landscape at Harvard University. He lives in Norwell, Massachusetts.
SYNOPSIS
Stilgoe (history of landscape, Harvard U.) defines, and sometimes discusses at length, terms relating to boating in estuaries and marshes, particularly on the northeast coast of North America, that are falling out of use as fewer venture into the areas. His format is more extended essay than dictionary. The index offers access to particular words. He does not provide a bibliography. Annotation © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
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