Chameleon English

'Chameleon,' says the author, educationist Laurence Shee, 'doesn't focus solely on figurative language, but on many other aspects that will entertain you.' And here they all are - shining examples of clear, living English in all its glory, with a special South African slant - and not so shiny examples of those howlers and linguistic black holes that people - especially politicians - tend to fall into. Bathos, malapropisms, unforgivable gobbledygook and downright dishonest speaking are all recorded, sourced from today's newspapers, yesterday's classics, and language mavens such as Bill Bryson and John Murray. The jargonauts of the new Rainbow Nation have their word, with Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and good neighbour 'Bob' Mugabe being singled out for outstanding nonsensicality. Here too are lexical delights, words and phrases dressed in tuxedos, sweats, workwear and African robes. Here we find happy talk and the wailings of post-apartheid apologia; here is satire and satisfaction. For without the cape of good language, ideas can never take wing and influence the lives of others. Born in Bulawayo and educated by the Christian Brothers, the author embarked on a career in education, winning several teaching awards during his thirty years at the żchalk faceż. His fascination with words, particularly politically duplicitous ones, led to this book. He withdraws to South African game reserves whenever possible.