
Making Sense
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $17.19
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
David Crystal
-
By:
-
David Crystal
About this listen
In Making Sense, David Crystal confronts the foe of many: grammar. Once taught relentlessly to all students in the English-speaking world, grammar disappeared from most school curricula, so that terms such as preposition and conjunction now often confound children and adults alike. Explaining the nuts and bolts of grammar presents a special challenge because - far more than is the case with spelling and punctuation - the subject is burdened with a centuries-old history of educational practice that many will recall as anything but glamorous.
One of the world's foremost authorities on the English language, Crystal sets out to rid grammar of its undeserved reputation as a dry and intimidating subject, pointing out how essential grammar is to clear and effective speech and writing. He moves briskly through the stages by which children acquire grammar, along the way demystifying grammar's rules and irregularities and showing us how to navigate its snares and pitfalls. He offers the fascinating history of grammar, explaining how it has evolved from the first grammarians in ancient Greece to our 21st century digital environment of blogging, emailing, and texting. Many find grammar to be a daunting subject, but in this breezy, entertaining book, Crystal proves that grammar doesn't need to make us uneasy - we can all make sense of how we make sense.
©2017 David Crystal (P)2017 Recorded BooksListeners also enjoyed...
-
A Little History of the World
- By: E. H. Gombrich
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
E. H. Gombrich's world history, an international best seller now available in English for the first time, is a text dominated not by dates and facts but by the sweep of experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity's achievements, and an acute witness to its frailties.
-
-
an enlightening book; very well read
- By A.B.Oxford on 06-03-06
By: E. H. Gombrich
-
Let's Talk
- How English Conversation Works
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: Paul Woodson
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Banter, chit-chat, gossip, natter, tete-a-tete: these are just a few of the terms for the varied ways in which we interact with one another through conversation. David Crystal explores the factors that motivate so many different kinds of talk and reveals the rules we use unconsciously, even in the most routine exchanges of everyday conversation.
By: David Crystal
-
Away with Words
- How You Can Learn Any Language and Cultivate an Idiomatic Mindset
- By: Ryan Doherty
- Narrated by: Angus Freathy
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language learning is seen as something incredibly difficult, and most speakers of English are brought up with the idea that we English speakers just aren't good at learning languages. But what if this isn't the true story? What if you could easily learn a new language and have fun doing it? In this book, I pull back the curtain to reveal the mindset and methodology of a polyglot. This book will dispel the myths, lay the foundations of the correct mindset for success, and inspire you to commit to learning that language you've always wanted to master.
-
-
A book I definitely needed
- By Braxton S. on 07-30-22
By: Ryan Doherty
-
You Say Potato: A Book About Accents
- By: Ben Crystal, David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal, Ben Crystal, Jane Savage, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some people say 'sconn' while others say 'schown'. He says 'bath' while she says 'bahth'. You say 'potayto'. I say 'potahto'. And - wait a second, no one says 'potahto'. No one's ever said 'potahto'. Have they? From reconstructing Shakespeare's accent to the rise and fall of received pronunciation, actor Ben Crystal and his linguist father, David, travel the world in search of the stories of spoken English.
-
-
Wish there were more native recordings.
- By Matt Dobler on 07-01-16
By: Ben Crystal, and others
-
The Story of English in 100 Words
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences, and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century ("roe", in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting edge ("twittersphere") and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and", "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language.
-
-
Random but entertaining
- By Sean on 04-01-13
By: David Crystal
-
The Gift of the Gab
- How Eloquence Works
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all know eloquence when we hear it. But what exactly is it? And how might we gain more of it for ourselves? This entertaining and, yes, eloquent audiobook illuminates the power of language from a linguistic point of view and provides fascinating insights into the way we use words. David Crystal, a world-renowned expert on the history and usage of the English language, probes the intricate workings of eloquence in this lively analysis. Crystal focuses on the here and now of eloquent speaking - from pitch, pace, and prosody to jokes, appropriateness, and how to wield a microphone.
-
-
more examples than content
- By Noel on 09-29-20
By: David Crystal
-
A Little History of the World
- By: E. H. Gombrich
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
E. H. Gombrich's world history, an international best seller now available in English for the first time, is a text dominated not by dates and facts but by the sweep of experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity's achievements, and an acute witness to its frailties.
-
-
an enlightening book; very well read
- By A.B.Oxford on 06-03-06
By: E. H. Gombrich
-
Let's Talk
- How English Conversation Works
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: Paul Woodson
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Banter, chit-chat, gossip, natter, tete-a-tete: these are just a few of the terms for the varied ways in which we interact with one another through conversation. David Crystal explores the factors that motivate so many different kinds of talk and reveals the rules we use unconsciously, even in the most routine exchanges of everyday conversation.
By: David Crystal
-
Away with Words
- How You Can Learn Any Language and Cultivate an Idiomatic Mindset
- By: Ryan Doherty
- Narrated by: Angus Freathy
- Length: 3 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Language learning is seen as something incredibly difficult, and most speakers of English are brought up with the idea that we English speakers just aren't good at learning languages. But what if this isn't the true story? What if you could easily learn a new language and have fun doing it? In this book, I pull back the curtain to reveal the mindset and methodology of a polyglot. This book will dispel the myths, lay the foundations of the correct mindset for success, and inspire you to commit to learning that language you've always wanted to master.
-
-
A book I definitely needed
- By Braxton S. on 07-30-22
By: Ryan Doherty
-
You Say Potato: A Book About Accents
- By: Ben Crystal, David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal, Ben Crystal, Jane Savage, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Some people say 'sconn' while others say 'schown'. He says 'bath' while she says 'bahth'. You say 'potayto'. I say 'potahto'. And - wait a second, no one says 'potahto'. No one's ever said 'potahto'. Have they? From reconstructing Shakespeare's accent to the rise and fall of received pronunciation, actor Ben Crystal and his linguist father, David, travel the world in search of the stories of spoken English.
-
-
Wish there were more native recordings.
- By Matt Dobler on 07-01-16
By: Ben Crystal, and others
-
The Story of English in 100 Words
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: David Crystal
- Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences, and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century ("roe", in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting edge ("twittersphere") and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and", "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language.
-
-
Random but entertaining
- By Sean on 04-01-13
By: David Crystal
-
The Gift of the Gab
- How Eloquence Works
- By: David Crystal
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We all know eloquence when we hear it. But what exactly is it? And how might we gain more of it for ourselves? This entertaining and, yes, eloquent audiobook illuminates the power of language from a linguistic point of view and provides fascinating insights into the way we use words. David Crystal, a world-renowned expert on the history and usage of the English language, probes the intricate workings of eloquence in this lively analysis. Crystal focuses on the here and now of eloquent speaking - from pitch, pace, and prosody to jokes, appropriateness, and how to wield a microphone.
-
-
more examples than content
- By Noel on 09-29-20
By: David Crystal
-
The Anglo-Saxons
- A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 - 1066
- By: Marc Morris
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 13 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings.
-
-
"Pretty Good"
- By Stephen on 05-30-21
By: Marc Morris
-
Words on the Move
- Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
-
-
Review By a Fan
- By Margaret on 09-25-16
By: John McWhorter
-
In a Sunburned Country
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion on the Appalachian Trail resulted in the best seller A Walk in the Woods. Now, we follow him "Down Under" to Australia with this delectably funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance that combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiosity. More from Bill Bryson.
-
-
Laugh out loud funny
- By Larry on 06-09-03
By: Bill Bryson
-
English Grammar Rules You Must Know to Avoid Embarrassing Mistakes
- Unlock the Secrets to Impeccable English
- By: Lessie Bradach
- Narrated by: Sera Champman
- Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This book is for anyone interested in improving their writing skills in English. It is written from the standpoint of someone who wants to improve their English grammar. The book will not only introduce you to the basics of English grammar, but it will also help you memorize them easily.
-
-
A Must-Have Grammar Reference
- By Joel Carr on 06-03-23
By: Lessie Bradach
-
The Sense of Style
- The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century
- By: Steven Pinker
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Sense of Style, the best-selling linguist and cognitive scientist Steven Pinker answers these questions and more. Rethinking the usage guide for the 21st century, Pinker doesn’t carp about the decline of language or recycle pet peeves from the rulebooks of a century ago. Instead, he applies insights from the sciences of language and mind to the challenge of crafting clear, coherent, and stylish prose.
-
-
A great book, done a great injustice by the audio
- By M. Kunze on 10-17-14
By: Steven Pinker
-
Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
- The Untold History of English
- By: John McWhorter
- Narrated by: John McWhorter
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
-
-
Great for casual linguists
- By Bertie on 01-11-10
By: John McWhorter
-
The Mother Tongue
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Stephen McLaughlin
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson - the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent - brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience, and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't) to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries.
-
-
More satire than history
- By Barbara Kindle Customer on 12-18-15
By: Bill Bryson
-
The Language Instinct
- How the Mind Creates Language
- By: Steven Pinker
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 18 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this classic, the world’s expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker weaves our vast knowledge of language into a compelling story: language is a human instinct, wired into our brains by evolution. The Language Instinct received the William James Book Prize from the American Psychological Association....
-
-
Absolutely Amazing and Interesting
- By J. C. on 10-28-12
By: Steven Pinker
-
Fluent in 3 Months
- How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World
- By: Benny Lewis
- Narrated by: Benny Lewis
- Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Benny Lewis is the creator of www.fluentin3months.com, the largest language-learning blog in the world. His proven techniques break down language learning myths and replace them with practical "language hacks" that take advantage of the skills we already possess. Fluent in 3 Months provides everything you need to make learning a new language fast, intuitive, and fun.
-
-
Inspiring material for language lovers
- By Traveling Munni on 08-13-14
By: Benny Lewis
-
Teaching Your Child to Read
- A Step by Step Guide to Helping Your Preschooler Learn and Develop Simple Reading Skills
- By: Jayne Beacon
- Narrated by: Carole Graham Lehan
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The idea of setting children up to be confident and fluent readers is daunting for most parents, but it doesn’t need to involve formal lessons or an in-depth understanding of the curriculum...in fact, it shouldn’t. The best way to set your child on the path to becoming an enthusiastic, curious, and confident reader is to integrate literacy skills into your everyday life...and above all, make them fun. In Teaching Your Child to Read, you’ll find a modern and straightforward approach to teaching your child early reading skills.
-
-
Must-Have Resource for All Parents & Teachers!
- By Darrell Moore on 03-02-23
By: Jayne Beacon
-
English Grammar Rules You Must Know
- Writing and Speaking 101 for Beginners, Daily English for Friendly Conversation & Business Applications, Understanding Grammar to Avoid Errors That Make You Look Dumb!
- By: Lissie Bradach
- Narrated by: Hedy Parks
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
English Grammar Rules You Must Know is the only book you will ever need to learn about the English language. You will learn all about nouns and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, punctuation, synonyms and antonyms, and more, in addition to writing paragraphs and composing essays across various contexts - from casual settings to professional environments. So, take note of this book, as it is the only one you will ever need to answer all your questions about the English language and grammar. Buy this book now, and get started on your new path to mastering the English language.
-
-
Helps tremendously with my writing
- By Louis Thorpe on 02-03-21
By: Lissie Bradach
-
The Core
- Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education
- By: Leigh A. Bortins
- Narrated by: Laura Bos
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the past, correct spelling, the multiplication tables, the names of the state capitals and the American presidents were basics that all children were taught in school. Today, many children graduate without this essential knowledge. Most curricula today follow a haphazard sampling of topics with a focus on political correctness instead of teaching students how to study.
-
-
Great, Practical Application
- By Bek612 on 08-28-15
By: Leigh A. Bortins
What listeners say about Making Sense
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 11-21-20
MUST LISTEN for teachers and adult learners
One of the most useful books that could greatly help language teachers. I must buy the paperback.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Emily
- 10-23-17
Another delight from David Crystal
For this unashamed grammar nerd, David Crystal's books are always a joy. Making Sense, in particular, was utterly delightful. Crystal narrates beautifully and this book delves not only into how children learn grammar but how teachers impart its power to students.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Abdullah
- 11-20-22
beautiful
He even talks about the southeast Asian "lah" ending. What else is there to want?
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful