Drawing from personal experiences to explore a wide range of topics in linguistics, this clever memoir looks at the ways people use language to communicate, to make art, and simply to survive. It begins with descriptions of the rich linguistic history of the author's family, her evolution as a feminist and an artist, and the influence of her lively hometown of Philadelphia. Personal and conversational, the book connects history to the present with research, interviews, and musings on digital technology and the contemporary state of the English language. Taking a traditionally niche subject outside of academia, this meditation on language examines its subjects with both intellectual vigor and tremendous heart.