Literally The Coolest Book

The word literally means in a literal exact or actual sense; not figuratively allegorically etc. But according to the Oxford English Dictionary literally can be colloquially used to indicate that some (frequently conventional) metaphorical or hyperbolical expression is to be taken in the strongest admissible sense: virtually as good as. The update also says that the recently recognized definition is now one of the most common uses although often considered irregular in standard English since it reverses the original sense of literally (not figuratively or metaphorically). If literally is now an emphasis for metaphor then we no longer have a word in the English language to distinguish the literal from the figurative. This book is a crusade to save the word literally. This book is designed to support parents as they encourage their children to think about language and the words that they hear speak read and write. Although this is a childrens book its intent is to serve as a tool for families to discuss the beauty intelligence and uniqueness of the English language. While some language lovers scorn the acceptance of the newer usages of literally I encourage young language learners to explore their own voice and lexicon as the way in which one speaks is an identifier of ones individualism personality and world view.