The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared language is what binds any community together and ma

What is the meaning of a word? Most readers turn to the dictionary for authoritative meanings and correct usage. But what is the source of authority in dictiona

This book seeks to discover what the Romans themselves thought about their empire by examining the changing meaning of key terms.

This anthology by Roland Barthes is a reflection on his travels to Japan in the 1960s. In twenty-six short chapters he writes about his encounters with symbols

For a girl these days, it may be fashionable to know how to encrypt text messages, design a webpage, and compile the ultimate playlist. But what about the thing