Bad English : a history of linguistic aggravation
by Ammon Shea

The editor and dictionary collector behind Reading the OED: One Man, One Year, 21,730 Pages offers an entertaining look at the words and phrases commonly used in modern English that were originally considered wrong, slang or impolite.

Because internet : understanding the new rules of language
by Gretchen McCulloch

Gretchen McCulloch explores the deep forces that shape human language and influence the way we communicate with one another. She explains how your first social internet experience influences whether you prefer "LOL" or "lol," why "sparkly tildes" succeeded where centuries of proposals for irony punctuation had failed, what emoji have in common with physical gestures, and how the artfully disarrayed language of animal memes like lolcats and doggo made them more likely to spread. Because Internet is essential reading for anyone who's ever puzzled over how to punctuate a text message or wondered where memes come from. It's the perfect book for understanding how the internet is changing the English language, why that's a good thing, and what our online interactions reveal about who we are.

Cultish : the language of fanaticism
by Amanda Montell

The author of Wordslut looks at how cults use language to gain power and how it has pervaded our entire culture, from notorious cults to modern startups and Instagram feeds. 

The dictionary wars : the American fight over the English language
by Peter Martin

Chronicles the national conflicts that resulted from efforts to produce the first definitive American dictionary of English.

Don't believe a word : the surprising truth about language
by David Shariatmadari

Draws on the latest understandings in linguistic science to share compelling insights into the cultural roles of folklore, “untranslatable” words and the surprising contributions of grammatical mistakes to urge readers to discover the fascinating realities of language-related phenomena.

Dreaming in Hindi : coming awake in another language
by Katherine Russell Rich

The author of The Red Devil: To Hell with Cancer--and Back recounts a writing assignment in India for which she studied the Hindi language in Rajasthan, where she witnessed radical changes that were occurring throughout the country and investigated how those changes were shaping the language.

The language of thieves : my family's obsession with a secret code the Nazis tried to eliminate
by Martin Puchner

The author of The Written Word describes how he was raised speaking a middle-Europe hybrid language passed down from regional underworld vagrants, refugees and thieves, revealing how the patois was violently targeted by Nazis, including the author's own grandfather.

Lingo : around Europe in sixty languages
by Gaston Dorren

Taking readers on a whirlwind tour of 60 European languages and dialects, an entertaining exploration of how Europe speaks shares quirky moments from their histories and explores their commonalities and differences.

Linguistics : a very short introduction
by P. H. Matthews

Linguistics falls in the gap between arts and science, on the edges of which the most fascinating discoveries and the most important problems are found. Rather than following the conventional organization of many contemporary introductions to the subject, the author of this stimulating guide begins his discussion with the oldest, 'arts' end of the subject and moves chronologically through to the newest research - the 'science' aspects. A series of short thematic chapters look in turn at such areas as the prehistory of languages and their common origins, language and evolution, language in time and space (the nature of change inherent in language), grammars and dictionaries (how systematic is language?), and phonetics. Explication of the newest discoveries pertaining to language in the brain completes the coverage of all major aspects of linguistics from a refreshing and insightful angle.

Lost in translation : an illustrated compendium of untranslatable words from around the world
by Ella Frances Sanders

Showcases 50 drawings of unique, funny and poignant foreign words that have no direct translation into English, combining evocative ink illustrations with text revealing each term's language of origin and definition. 

The pun also rises : how the humble pun revolutionized language, changed history, and made wordplay more than some antics
by John Pollack

A former speechwriter for Bill Clinton provides a light-hearted exploration of puns, including the brain science and history behind them, as well as how they play out in pop culture.

Swearing is good for you : the amazing science of bad language
by Emma Byrne

A scientist reveals how swearing has been around since the earliest humans began to communicate, and has been shown to reduce physical pain, to lower anxiety, to prevent physical violence, to help trauma victims recover language, and to promote human cooperation.

Talking back, talking Black : truths about America's Lingua Franca
by John H McWhorter

A linguistic expert explains the fundamentals and rich history of Black English while carefully examining the cultural, educational and political issues that have undermined recognition of the transformative, empowering dialect.

Thinking inside the box : adventures with crosswords and the puzzling people who can't live without them
by Adrienne Raphel

The award-winning author of What Was It For presents an immersive history of the crossword puzzle that discusses its 1913 invention, roaring commercial success, perilous digital transformations and popularity among millions, including famous celebrities.

Word freak : heartbreak, triumph, genius, and obsession in the world of competitive scrabble players
by Stefan Fatsis

Follows the author, who was originally just a curious reporter and now a Scrabble fiend, as he becomes an expert Scrabble player and delves into the realm of Scrabble culture, where he encounters a vitamin-popping standup comic and the three-time champion who plays by Zen principles, and realizes that Scrabble is more than just a game on many different levels.