Books by Jim Wegryn

"A town called Hell, which freezes over. A mollusk raised to college mascot. A brand of bubble gum named for a musical instrument. Wegryn visits all these examples and more in his humorous investigation of naming practices. For a popular overview of the field, Funny Thing About Names delivers its message with wit and style."--Christine De Vinne, American Name Society President.Ask yourself this...What is the most popular street name?Who was Benedict Arnold's infamous brother?What is the oldest sports team nickname?What famous university once was named Chatholepistemaid?Why did Boris Karloff change his name?Why didn't Arnold Schwarzenegger?Funny Thing About Names answers these questions and many more as it delves into the wide world of names.Bases upon ten years of research, this amusing account examines how and why we label people, places and businesses in America. It will delight the trivia buff, intrigue the reader interested in onomastics (the study of names), and put a smile on both.

English is a funny language. Consider:Would you call church music organic?How come it's father, mother, brother, but not sisther?Why do doctors use a scalpel when they're not operating on your head?Would you say that an engraver is a cemetery worker?Isn't it macabre that slaughter is mostly laughter?Wouldn't it seem that the opposite of formality should be casualty?Don't sheep have to be deranged before shearing?Here is a humorous collection of over 1,000 English words--a veritable encyclopedia--including goofinitions, mock antonyms, collective nouns, hyphens, punishing adjectives, bundle words and much more. This is a must-have volume for comedians, speech writers, punsters, toastmasters, English teachers, and all students of language.