Wordslut

A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language

by Amanda Montell

hardcover, 304 pages

Published May 28, 2019 by Harper Wave.

ISBN:: 978-0-06-286887-9
OCLC Number:: 1051052154

(10 reviews)

The word "bitch" conjures many images for many people but is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean a female canine, bitch didn’t refer to gender at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word meaning genitalia. A perfectly innocuous word devolving into a female insult is the case for tons more terms, including hussy, which simply meant “housewife,” or slut, which meant “untidy” and was also used to describe men. These words are just a few among history’s many English slurs hurled at women.

Amanda Montell, feminist linguist and staff features editor at online beauty and health magazine Byrdie.com, deconstructs language—from insults and cursing to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women form gaining equality. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women use the word “like” as a filler? Or why certain gender neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or even how linguists have historically discussed women’s speech patterns? Wordslut is no stuffy academic study; Montell’s irresistible humor shines through, making linguistics not only approachable but both downright hilarious and profound.

6 editions

73pctGeek reviewed Wordslut by Amanda Montell

A nice introduction

3 stars

Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language is very beginner-friendly. The writing is fine, and the topic interesting, but as I didn’t find Montell’s sense of humour particularly amusing, some of it fell flat for me.

Fluffier, and less rigorous than expected, it felt more of a primer rather than something to read if you’ve previously had more than a passing interest in the topic.

I’m a feminist, and I love words, but this wasn’t as fun or as illuminating as I’d hoped. Excellent for those who are just dipping their toes into the subject, however.

Marsha Woerner reviewed Wordslut by Amanda Montell

Review of 'Wordslut' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

In many ways, I ought to have been a linguistics (or biochem) rather than mathematics major in college! Language is so important (and fascinating) to a society, including how it reflects the society and the workings of the society overall and how it changes year to year (decade to decade) to reflect said society as it does so.
This book discusses the language and linguistics of the US and their effect on, and more precisely how they are affected by sexism and prejudice exhibited by our nation. It discusses more than just the language and linguistics themselves, but the underlying prejudices displayed by them, and some of what we currently ARE doing and should encourage to help offset some of the negative impacts.

Eduardo Santiago reviewed Wordslut by Amanda Montell

Review of 'Wordslut' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

She had me, not quite at hello, but certainly by the second page, and she kept me hooked the entire way through. So many of my favorite subjects! Linguistics. Etymology. Culture, anthropology, listening, communicating. Snark. Ideas. Smart, strong, sexy women working together to smash the patriarchy. I want to read it again. I want to buy a dozen copies to give away.

Not all of it was entirely comprehensible, but that’s my fault: I’m too old and unhip. I still don’t really know what “vocal fry” is, despite friend A. spending 20 minutes with me on it. (Or, I guess I now know more about it, but I’ve never noticed it and don’t understand why it’s such a huge deal to some people). And there are terms like “yas” and ”werk” that completely whooshed over my head. But that’s cool — I mean hip — or groovy — or phat? …