Language Instruction Audiobooks

Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York

Half of all 7,000-plus human languages may disappear over the next century and when they're gone, it will be forever. Ross Perlin, a linguist and codirector of the Manhattan-based non-profit Endangered Language Alliance, is racing against time to map little-known languages across the most linguistically diverse city in history: contemporary New York. Perlin recounts the unique history of immigration that shaped the city, and follows six remarkable yet ordinary speakers of endangered languages deep into their communities to learn how they are maintaining and reviving their languages. Seke is spoken by 700 people from five ancestral villages in Nepal, a hundred of whom have lived in a single Brooklyn apartment building. N'ko is a radical new West African writing system now going global in Harlem and the Bronx. After centuries of colonization and displacement, Lenape, the city's original Indigenous language and the source of the name Manhattan ('the place where we get bows'), has just one fluent native speaker, bolstered by a small band of revivalists. A century after the anti-immigration Johnson-Reed Act closed America's doors for decades and on the 400th anniversary of New York's colonial founding, Perlin raises the alarm about growing political threats and the onslaught of 'killer languages' like English and Spanish.

Ross Perlin (Author), Ross Perlin (Narrator)

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The Secret Lives of Booksellers & Librarians

Brought to you by Penguin. To be a bookseller or librarian . . . You have to play detective. Be a treasure hunter. A matchmaker. A brilliant listener. A person who creates a kind of magic by pulling a book from a shelf, handing it to someone and saying, 'You've got to read this. You're going to love it'. In this love letter to the heroes of literacy, James Patterson uncovers true stories from booksellers and librarians. Prepare to enter a world where you can feed your curiosities, discover new voices, and find whatever you need. Meet the smart and talented people who live between the shelves - and who can't wait to help you find your next great read. PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON 'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' LEE CHILD 'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' IAN RANKIN 'The master storyteller of our times' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ©2024 James Patterson (P)2024 Penguin Audio

James Patterson (Author), Amy Jensen, Daniel Henning, Deanna Anthony, Jane Oppenheimer, Jenn Lee, Jennifer Pickens, Marni Penning, Nancy Peterson, Rob Reider, Susan Hanfield, TBD, Tom Force (Narrator)

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The Case of Lizzie Borden and Other Writings

The first and only comprehensive collection of writings by Elizabeth Garver Jordan, the groundbreaking journalist, suffragist, and editor whose fearless reporting on women preceded the #MeToo movement and popularized the true-crime genre A Penguin Classic The Case of Lizzie Borden and Other Writings is the first to collect Garver Jordan's fiction and journalism, much of which has been out of print for over a century. Jordan began her career as a reporter, making her name as one of few women journalists to cover the Lizzie Borden murder trial for the New York World in 1893. Jordan's distinctive, narrative-driven coverage of the Borden and other high-profile murder cases brought her national visibility, and she turned increasingly to fiction writing. Drawing on her experiences as a true-crime reporter and newspaper editor, she published detective novels and short story collections such as Tales of the City Room that explored the fine line between women's criminality and crimes against women. Employing popular genre conventions as a means of dealing with women's issues, Jordan exposed gendered abuse in the workplace and the prevalence of sexual violence. The Case of Lizzie Borden and Other Writings encourages readers to draw a historical trajectory from Jordan's pioneering literary activism to the writings of contemporary journalists and novelists whose work continues to fuel discussions of gender, feminism, and crime, raising questions about who gets to tell women's stories, especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Elizabeth Garver Jordan (Author), Barrie Kreinik, Brooke Kroeger, Jane Carr, Lori Harrison-Kahan, TBD (Narrator)

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Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words

A kinder, funner usage guide to the ever-changing English language and a useful tool for both the grammar stickler and the more colloquial user of English, from linguist and veteran professor Anne Curzan Our use of language naturally evolves and is a living, breathing thing that reflects who we are. Says Who? offers clear, nuanced guidance that goes beyond "right" and "wrong" to empower us to make informed language choices. Never snooty or scoldy (yes, that's a "real" word!), this book explains where the grammar rules we learned in school actually come from and reveals the forces that drive dictionary editors to label certain words as slang or unacceptable. Linguist and veteran English professor Anne Curzan equips readers with the tools they need to adeptly manage (a split infinitive?! You betcha!) formal and informal writing and speaking. After all, we don't want to be caught wearing our linguistic pajamas to a job interview any more than we want to show up for a backyard barbecue in a verbal tux, asking, "To whom shall I pass the ketchup?" Curzan helps us use our new knowledge about the developing nature of language and grammar rules to become caretakers of language rather than gatekeepers of it. Applying entertaining examples from literature, newspapers, television, and more, Curzan welcomes usage novices and encourages the language police to lower their pens, showing us how we can care about language precision, clarity, and inclusion all at the same time. With lively humor and humanity, Says Who? is a pragmatic and accessible key that reveals how our choices about language usage can be a powerful force for equity and personal expression. For proud grammar sticklers and self-conscious writers alike, Curzan makes nerding out about language fun.

Anne Curzan (Author), Anne Curzan (Narrator)

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A Poetry Handbook

“Mary Oliver would probably never admit to anything so grandiose as an effort to connect the conscious mind and the heart (that’s what she says poetry can do), but that is exactly what she accomplishes in this stunning little handbook.”—Los Angeles Times From the beloved, legendary poet, the ultimate guide to writing and understanding poetry. With passion and wit, Mary Oliver skillfully imparts expertise from her long, celebrated career as a disguised poet. She walks readers through exactly how a poem is built, from meter and rhyme, to form and diction, to sound and sense, drawing on poems by Robert Frost, Elizabeth Bishop, and others. This handbook is an invaluable glimpse into Oliver’s prolific mind—a must-have for all poetry-lovers.

Mary Oliver (Author), Kimberly Farr (Narrator)

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[Spanish] - Secretos de un storytelling que conquista

El storytelling no se trata solo de contar cuentos, por más poético que pueda sonar. Se trata de un método eficaz que te ayudará a potenciar tu mensaje sea cual sea el tema que vayas a tratar. Entenderlo y usarlo para comunicarte será sumamente útil tanto si quieres escribir una novela o tu libro de memorias como si deseas exponer una idea nueva en la empresa donde trabajas. Y aunque no te has dado cuenta de ello, estamos rodeados de materiales donde el storytelling está haciendo su magia: un capítulo de tu serie favorita, la forma en que un autor narra un libro, las conferencias de coaching e incluso el pitch de venta de cualquier emprendedor que se haya preparado bien antes de vender su producto. Este audiocurso te ayudará a descubrir los secretos del storytelling para que comiences a aplicarlos cuanto antes en tu trabajo y en tu vida. Lo que te comparto aquí son ideas que tú podrás poner en práctica tan pronto como termines de escuchar el curso.

Carlos Salas (Author), Carlos Salas (Narrator)

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From Enlightenment To Revolution: Pitt, Burke & Robespierre, 1766-1794

History is often concentrated into short bursts of change, with long periods of shifting before and waves of alteration afterwards. Nowhere is this more obvious than the thirty year interregnum between the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. In this period, three figures stand tall; Pitt, the elder stateman who saw the need for genuine constitutionalism; Burke, the consummate parliamentarian, speaking for the glory of empire; and Robespierre, the legendary and controversial frontman of the French Revolution. William Pitt The Elder speaks about the need for key changes to the body politic. The first speech here predates the interregnum, being from 1738, when he was merely thirty, and covers a key factor in Britain’s colonial problems for the next two centuries, being the complete internal corruption of the army. Edmund Burke represents the height of Royalist sympathy as the age of revolution gets underway. He speaks on the need for conciliation with America after the disaster of the Stamp Act and revolution, on the need to punish Warren Hastings for treating his Asian holdings as his own empire to fill with his own corruption, and on the end of an era with the passing of Marie Antoinette. Finally, the age of revolution, both industrial and political, has begun. Robespierre argues for the dignity of man; for rejecting the divinity of royal authority in favour of that of the human spirit; against the death penalty, as being below the dignity of a truly humanist state; on enemies, internal and external, who push the people to reject their own interests for those of the powerful. This is but a small selection of the man’s incredible output - in 1791 alone, he gave three hundred and twenty-eight speeches. Spitting bile and flame in his last speech, which closes this volume, Robespierre truly inaugurates the era when revolution against centuries-old powers brought their end, and their nations found their renewal.

Edmund Burke, Maximillian Robespierre, William Pitt (Author), Charles Featherstone (Narrator)

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Dogwhistles and Figleaves: How Manipulative Language Spreads Racism and Falsehood

It is widely accepted that political discourse in recent years has become more openly racist and more accepting of wildly implausible conspiracy theories. Dogwhistles and Figleaves explores ways in which such changes-both of which defied previously settled norms of political speech-have been brought about. Jennifer Saul shows that two linguistic devices, dogwhistles and figleaves, have played a crucial role. Some dogwhistles (such as '88', used by Nazis online to mean 'Heil Hitler') serve to disguise messages that would otherwise be rejected as unacceptable, allowing them to be transmitted surreptitiously. Other dogwhistles (like the 1988 'Willie Horton' ad) work by influencing people in ways that they are not aware of, and which they would likely reject were they aware. Figleaves (such as 'just asking questions') take messages that could easily be recognized as unacceptable, and provide just enough cover that people become more willing to accept them. Saul argues that these devices are important for the spread of racist discourse. She also shows how they contribute to the transmission of norm-violating discourse more generally, focusing on the case of wildly implausible conspiracist speech. This book is the first full-length exploration of dogwhistles and figleaves. It offers an illuminating and disturbing view of the workings of contemporary political discourse.

Jennifer Mather Saul (Author), Clare Staniforth (Narrator)

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Literary Theory for Robots: How Computers Learned to Write

Literary Theory for Robots reveals the hidden history of modern machine intelligence, taking listeners on a spellbinding journey from medieval Arabic philosophy to visions of a universal language, past Hollywood fiction factories, and missile defense systems trained on Russian folktales. In this provocative reflection on the shared pasts of literature and computer science, former Microsoft engineer and professor of comparative literature Dennis Yi Tenen provides crucial context for recent developments in AI, which holds important lessons for the future of humans living with smart technology. Intelligence expressed through technology should not be mistaken for a magical genie, capable of self-directed thought or action. Rather, in highly original and effervescent prose with a generous dose of wit, Yi Tenen asks us to read past the artifice-to better perceive the mechanics of collaborative work. Something as simple as a spell-checker or a grammar-correction tool, embedded in every word-processor, represents the culmination of a shared human effort, spanning centuries. With its masterful blend of history, technology, and philosophy, Yi Tenen's work ultimately urges us to view AI as a matter of labor history, celebrating the long-standing cooperation between authors and engineers.

Dennis Yi Tenen (Author), Rebecca Lam (Narrator)

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Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author

'All aspiring authors know the value of a great literary agent, but few know how to get one. Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.' — Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast Re:Thinking A step-by-step guide from a New York literary agent that will show you how to create a winning concept, craft an irresistible pitch, and land your dream book deal. In this practical, immediately actionable guide, Lucinda Halpern, who has represented New York Times bestsellers and brokered numerous deals with major publishers for over a decade, divulges what agents look for in authors and the shortcuts they use to get book deals but have never revealed—until now. Lucinda has personally helped hundreds of writers and entrepreneurs launch timeless, best-selling books. But the path to literary success begins with knowing the answers to questions like: · How do I make my book idea marketable to agents and publishers? · What essential ingredients should my book pitch possess? · What common pitfalls and errors should I avoid? · How do I find a reputable agent who shares my vision? · What can I do if I'm getting rejected by agents and publishers? With her unique 6-step method, Lucinda provides the tools and concrete strategies to: · Write a query letter that gets an agent's attention · Build an effective marketing platform · Create a timeless bestseller Packed with interviews from best-selling authors, leading book editors from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and more, Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need right now to get noticed and become a published author. This audio product contains a PDF with supporting material, and the PDF is available to download. Download the accompanying PDF by visiting hayhouse.com/downloads and entering the following: Product ID - 5555 Download Code - PDF

Lucinda Halpern (Author), Lucinda Halpern (Narrator)

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[German] - The Man behind the Words: In 100 Tagen zum Roman

The Man behind the Words versteht sich als Begleitbuch zum gleichnamigen YouTube-Kanal. Autor und Produzent Frank-Michael Rost schafft einen Bogenschlag von der Ausgangsfrage 'Was ist eine Geschichte?' über das benötigte Handwerkszeug, um selbst schriftstellerisch tätig werden zu können, bis hin zu Erläuterungen, wie die eigenen Texte am besten veröffentlicht werden können. Viele leicht nachvollziehbare Praxisbeispiele ergänzen dieses Buch, das sich selbst irgendwo zwischen Ratgeber und Unterhaltung verortet. Unabhängig davon, ob du selbst schreibst oder einfach nur neugierig auf die Arbeitsweise des Autoren bist, dieses Buch wird dich begeistern.

Frank-Michael Rost (Author), Frank-Michael Rost (Narrator)

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[Dutch; Flemish] - Tussen de rails: De 35 mooiste treinreizen van Europa

De 35 mooiste treinreizen van Europa, beschreven door dé treinreisjournalist van de Lage Landen Met een voorwoord van Paul Haenen De internationale trein beleeft een glorieuze comeback. En terecht, want reizen per spoor is avontuurlijk, relaxed en klimaatvriendelijk. Er is alle ruimte om rond te lopen, een boek te lezen of te lunchen terwijl de mooiste landschappen langs je raam voorbijglijden. De trein is een microkosmos waarin tijd er even niet toe doet – een betere reden om te ontspannen bestaat niet. Bekroond reisjournalist Sander Groen brengt een ode aan de trein met dit boek vol meeslepende reisverhalen over epische treinreizen. Treed in het voetspoor van Poirot in de slaaptrein naar de Rivièra, reis heel Italië door en steek dan met trein en al op de veerboot over naar Sicilië, of bedwing je hoogtevrees op de bergspoorlijn van dictator Tito in Montenegro. Dit zijn de 35 mooiste treinreizen van Europa – die je zelf ook kunt maken. Tussen de rails is behalve een leesboek ook een inspiratiegids, met verhalen over de Trans-Europ-Express, spoorwegpioniers en Interrail, de mooiste treinstations, beroemdste luxetreinen en beste treinfilms, plus praktische tips voor het plannen van je eigen treinvakantie. Na dit boek wil je nog maar één ding: instappen en Europa ontdekken per trein. 'Tijdens de 35 Europese treinreizen die Sander Groen tipt in Tussen de rails zou ik zeker om me heen kijken. Groen vertelt waarom ze de mooiste van Europa zijn. Er komen ook leuke lijstjes voorbij: 'de tien beste Europese treinfilms' en 'de tien leukste spoorwandelingen'.' AD 'De internationale trein beleeft een comeback en reisjournalist Sander Groen, die zich de laatste jaren alleen nog duurzaam verplaatst, brengt in Tussen de rails een ode aan de trein met zijn verhalen over de 35 mooiste treinreizen door Europa.' Het Parool 'In Tussen de rails reist [Groen] door Italië, op de veerboot naar Sicilië, of langs een bergspoorlijn in Montenegro. Het boek is geen opsomming van reisroutes, maar een ode aan de romantiek van charmante stationnetjes en hotelkamers op wielen. Bomvol tips om je eigen treinvakantie te plannen.' Knack Weekend 'Al meer dan twintig jaar maakt Groen reisreportages, onder meer voor deze krant. [...] Tussen de rails is een inspirerend boek met mooie verhalen, tips en praktische informatie voor wie net als hij het liefst duurzaam de wereld in trekt.' Trouw 'Groen zelf blijft prettig afwezig in zijn reisbeschrijvingen. [...] Nuttig is ook dat hij per land praktische informatie geeft over soorten treinen en tickets, boekingsmogelijkheden en websites. Tussen de Rails is een aanmoediging om tot op hoge leeftijd te blijven tienertoeren.' de Volkskrant 'Tussen de rails van Sander Groen (what's in a name?) neemt je mee op de 35 mooiste treinreizen van Europa. [...] Meer dan een pure reisgids is het vooral een hommage aan de schoonheid van traag reizen.' Het Laatste Nieuws Sander Groen (1971) is reisjournalist sinds 2001. Hij schreef honderden reisreportages voor de Volkskrant, Trouw, National Geographic Traveler, Kampioen, Knack Weekend, De Morgen en vele andere Nederlandse, Belgische en internationale kranten en tijdschriften. Hij won diverse prijzen, waaronder de Aad Struijs Persprijs, de enige onafhankelijke vakprijs voor Nederlandstalige reisjournalistiek, met een reportage over een driedaagse treinreis van Istanboel naar Teheran in de Trans-Azië Express. Groen reist graag groen – per trein, bus, boot, fiets of te voet.

Sander Groen (Author), Sander Groen (Narrator)

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