History of the English Language. GIVE ME MORE.

[osaraba]

Went up to fskip=120 then decided to stop. Hi people.

Just finished reading Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold Story of English by John McWhorter. Barnes & Noble's online synopsis puts it succinctly:

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 Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.

Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English- and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it's not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition).

For anyone who has an interest in grammar, linguistics, or languages in general, this was a great read. Always engaging; never boring; very enlightening. Nothing in it has "changed" the way I use grammar, but it certainly has revealed the depths and quirks of English grammar and how it has come to have the shape it does. I HIGHLY recommend it!

It does help to have a passing knowledge of a romance language, a germanic language other than English, and a celtic language; the little I know of German, combined with the several years I took of Spanish, helped make some of his examples understandable in practice rather than theory. Unfortunately, I was mostly lost on the Celtic even though I've had an interest in learning Scottish Gaelic since high school. Still, if you're familiar with any of those languages on an introductory/beginner basis, you're good.

If anyone wants to borrow it, I will be happy to lend it out as it was really a pleasure to read!

There's more that I wanted to talk about, but actually have a lot of work to do. =( More later.

Comments

[morganwolf.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely like to read it. I'll have to check and see if it's in the library, unless you don't mind loaning me your copy. Speaking of which, I think you might like reading Jasper Fforde, if you haven't already-- a friend loaned me some of her copies, and said to pass them on when I was done. Interested in swapping? Books, I mean.

[osaraba]

Absolutely! OMBT was a birthday gift from my mom, so I can't give it away, but I'm MORE than happy to loan it out! I love lending people books that they're interested in reading! #booklove (ohgodtwitterinfection)

Not sure when I will see you next! But I will absolutely lend you the book then (and also look forward to getting back the David Weber book from Joe). I don't know if you guys read that one, but I hope so since I do love that series. After Otakon, I intend to borrow Hyperion from you via Maryann's room. =D

[http://users.livejournal.com/_corruption_/]

I need to read this. NOW.

[osaraba]

YAY READ IT! I can lend it to you, but it may take a while as I am also lending it to Maryann, Liz, and Morgan. =D