Wordorigins.org

Crystal, David. (2006). How Language Works. New York, Overlook Press.

An explanation of linguistic concepts for the lay person.

Dalby, A., (1998). Dictionary of Languages. New York: Columbia University Press.

An encyclopedia describing over 400 of the world’s languages.

Allan, Keith & Kate Burridge, (2006). Forbidden words: taboo and the censoring of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Scholarly examination of swearing and profanity.

Winchester, S. (2003). The meaning of everything: the story of the Oxford English dictionary. Oxford; New York, Oxford University Press.

A history of the great dictionary was made.

Whiting, B. J. (1989). Modern proverbs and proverbial sayings. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press.