Michael Erard, on his post 'At real art ways', had talked about another linguist Ammon Shea. Ammon spent an entire year reading the dictionary to then write a book about the experience.
The book is about how books are just words put in a series to entertain. Most words in them selves are unnecessary, but can be amusing. In the book he points out Some of you reading this are no doubt thinking, “Why do I need this silly little word that describes ‘of or relating to breakfast’?” The answer is you don’t need it. But it is also true that you don’t need the overwhelming majority of words you use throughout the day, either, and jentacular is far more charming than most of them." He seeks out words, that bring a greater experience to conversation. When words are a vehicle of expression, its dictionary meaning when put into context gives the word an infinite number of meanings...or at least I think thats what he is alluding to.
Also his writing style is especially interesting in that when he writes be it book, blog, or letters he will identify words of importance with (n.) or (v.), I guess because he doesn't hold much faith in others vocabulary.
"Oddly inspiring...Shea has walked the wildwood of our gnarled, ancient speech and returned singing incomprehensible sounds in a language that turns out to be our own.”-Times review
http://thebookladysblog.com/2009/01/12/book-review-reading-the-oed-by-ammon-shea/
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