The untold history of english, writing that we speak a miscegenated grammar. 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. The book focuses on english grammar and how english. 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. Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values. This little book is a firm shot across the bow of prescriptivist linguists one of many, perhaps, in a long running family feud between descriptivists and prescriptivists. Click to read more about our magnificent bastard tongue. First, there is nothing unique about englishs openness to words from other languages.
That being said, our magnificent bastard tongue is a great listen for those interested in the origins and evolution of the english language told not only through history. Many books cover similar topics, but mcwhorter sets his scholarship apart by examining the idiosyncrasies and influences of english. 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. Books by john mcwhorter author of our magnificent bastard. John mcwhorters most popular book is our magnificent bastard tongue. A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the english language, focusing on our strange and wonderful. Covering such turning points as the littleknown celtic and welsh influences on english, the impact of the viking raids and the norman conquest, and the germanic invasions that started it all. Oct 01, 2009 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. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for. And no, its not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition. The untold history of english from the worlds largest community of readers. Skeletons in the closet our magnificent bastard tongue. Oct 01, 2008 for my next nonfiction project, im been rummaging around in paleolinguistics and paleohistory.
It required just a bit more careful and attentive reading that i was willing to give at the time, which likely has more to do with my own situation than the author. He points out that english has what he calls kinks in its. Delving into provocative topics and more, our magnificent bastard language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. The final chapter in our new history of english takes us back before english was even english. Pdf our magnificent bastard tongue download full pdf book. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read our magnificent bastard tongue. Our magnificent bastard tongue ebook by john mcwhorter. Linguist john mcwhorter explores the origins and evolution of the english language in our magnificent bastard tongue and explains how english managed to differentiate so extremely from other european languages. 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. The untold history of english 9781592404940 by mcwhorter, john and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Mar 15, 2009 english is subjected to a great number of descriptors in our magnificent bastard tongue, john mcwhorters brief and engaging look at some of the history of our language.
This very readable book will make you think about english in a new way. Our magnificent bastard tongue audiobook by john mcwhorter. The untold history of english may be found by selecting the categories below. 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. Pdf the untold history of the united states by oliver.
Linguist john mcwhorter puts it succinctly in our magnificent bastard tongue. The untold history of english ebook written by john mcwhorter. Mcwhorter is more interested in, as the subtitle puts it, the untold history of english. Chock full of examples of how the english language has. A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the english language, this work focuses on its strange and wonderful grammar. Our magnificent bastard tongue by john mcwhorter gotham books is the most entertaining book about linguistics that ive read. As a teacher and writer, i love english and its quirks, but i never could get my mind around all the charts, graphs, and jargon of formal linguistics. Our magnificent bastard tongue is by no means a complete chronicle of our language.
Our magnificent bastard tongue the untold history of english ebook by john mcwhorter. The book focuses on english grammar and how english evolved when. Covering the littleknown 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, and drawing on genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of trivia about the origins of english words and syntax patterns, mcwhorter. 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. Its a more casual overview of the english language that focuses more on history and vocabulary a very good listen. His unstated thesis is that english is a creole language. The untold history of english kindle edition by mcwhorter, john. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for and no, its not a sin to end a sentence with a. John mcwhorters our magnificent bastard tongue offers very interesting ideas about the history of the english language and why it has come to be the way it is today. Suffice to say that my most recent reading has led me back to the delightful our magnificent bastard tongue. His unstated thesis is that english is a creole language, with nothing pejorative intended in the phrase. Our magnificent bastard tongue npr coverage of our magnificent bastard tongue. Catherine carpenter, cates books and stuff, louisiana, mo. Oct 30, 2008 john mcwhorters our magnificent bastard tongue offers very interesting ideas about the history of the english language and why it has come to be the way it is today.
Mcwhorter is one of the more engaging academic writers ive had the pleasure of reading, but i still found this book a bit slow in the middle. Delving into these provocative topics and more, author mcwhorter distills hundreds of years of lore i. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The untold history of the united states by oliver stone pdf free download the untold history of the potato and read the untold history of the potato online books in format pdf. Its a trip we need to take, because it reinforces two lessons i have tried to get across in this book. Our magnificent bastard tongue, the untold history of english by john mcwhorter. A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the englis. Is ending a sentence with a preposition a length you simply would not go to. John mcwhorter has 36 books on goodreads with 11298 ratings. Our magnificent bastard tongue by mcwhorter, john ebook. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading our magnificent bastard tongue. John h mcwhorter why do we say i am reading a catalog instead of i read a catalog.
Dublin 2, ireland a division of penguin books ltd penguin group. Delving into these provocative topics and more, our magnificent bastard languagedistills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Read our magnificent bastard tongue the untold history of english by john mcwhorter available from rakuten kobo. Many books cover similar topics, but mcwhorter sets his scholarship apart by examining the idiosyncrasies and influences of english that other linguists either ignore or barely mention. Sep 19, 2019 our magnificent bastard tongue is the latter. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have. Our magnificent bastard tongue quotes by john mcwhorter. 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 englishand its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. As a peopled narrative full of kings, revolutions, dusty manuscripts, and vikings, its a much more accessible topic than, say, syntactic theory, which perhaps explains and excuses the greater percentage.
The untold history of english by john mcwhorter 5,502 ratings, 3. The untold history of english first printing by mcwhorter, john isbn. John mcwhorter audio books, best sellers, author bio. Our magnificent bastard tongue the untold history of. Mcwhorters writing style made this book entertaining and informative all at once. Mcwhorter has published a number of books on linguistics and on race relations, of which the better known are power of babel. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for and no, its not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition. That being said, our magnificent bastard tongue is a great listen for those interested in the origins and evolution of the english language told not only through history and vocabulary but also through grammar and linguistics. Catherine carpenter, cates books and stuff, louisiana, mo view the list.
A natural history of language, our magnificent bastard tongue. 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. John mcwhorter 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. Like many linguistic books written for a broader audience, ombt tells the history of english. A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the english language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar why do we s. Well, mcwhorter reminds us that our english lost all of its suffixes in the morning of our western civilization. Mcwhorter puts forth an engaging and entertaining revisionist history of english as he puts it, our magnificent bastard tongue. John mcwhorters our magnificent bastard tongue covers the origins of english as a lingua franca and how the influences of history, such as viking raids and germanic invasions, have shaped it.
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