Fun with Words

A Research Guide

 

What key words will help me find information about this topic?

Where can I find print resources about this topic?

What are some good internet sites about this topic?

 

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SELECTED SOURCES AT PAMUNKEY REGIONAL LIBRARY

 

This guide tells how to find information in the library about words and language. If you need assistance, please feel free to ask the Library staff. 

 

 

1. What key words will help me find information about this topic?

 

To find books that can be checked out, choose the SUBJECT search in the online catalog, and type (one at a time) these subjects:

 

• Language

• Language and languages - etymology

• Grammar

• Etymology

• English language

• English language - etymology 

 

You may also want to browse subjects: when in the catalog, choose BROWSE and type in any of the above words or phrases.  This will allow you to browse narrower subject headings.

 

 

2. Where can I find print resources on words and languages in the library?

 

Most of the books will be shelved according to their Dewey Decimal Classification number in the Non-fiction Stacks at:

 

 

400

Language

 

When you are doing research, make sure that you search in the reference area as well; these books cannot be checked out like the general collection can, but there is a lot of valuable information available.  Some reference books you might look at might include

 

 

R 423 OXF	Oxford English Dictionary	Available at Ashland Branch.
R 427 HOW	Dixie Dictionary: an introduction to the Southern language	Available at Ashland, Atlee, Goochland and Upper King William Branch Libraries.
R 422 HEN	Facts on File encyclopedia of word and phrase origins	Available at Ashland, Atlee, Goochland, Mechanicsville, Upper King William and West Point Branch Libraries.
R 423 QUI	Ologies and isms: a dictionary of word beginnings and endings	Available at Ashland, Atlee and Mechanicsville Branch Libraries.
R 422 MAN	Facts on File dictionary of foreign words and phrases	Available at Atlee Branch Library.

 

Your library may not have all these resources available, but other resources will be available — when in doubt, just ask the Library staff.

 

 

3. What are some good internet sites about this topic?

 

There are a variety of excellent resources on this topic available through the Internet, such as:

 

          World Wide Words     www.worldwidewords.org

          Librarian's Internet Index     www.lii.org/pub/topic/language

          Internet Scout Project     http://scout.wisc.edu/index.php

          Bartleby.com     www.bartleby.com

 

 

 

If you have a particular search term that you would like to use, go to our Rollyo page to search all these resources at once.

 

You may also want to check out the resources at the Internet Public Library. These websites will provide you with reliable information.

 

As always, please feel free to ask a Library Staff member, or email us at Ask a Librarian!

 

 

 

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compiled by the PRL Reference and Training Department (2008)