mother tongue the story of the english language

The author also says that another factor that sets English apart from most languages is its flexibility concerning word order, the use of the passive and the active voice and the subtle differences one can express through verbal forms. Another curious example given in the book: one can think, ponder or cogitate upon a problem.ģ. One could also shrink in fear, horror or trepidation. So, for example, one can rise, mount or ascend a stairway. It’s believed that English has a synonym for each level of the culture: popular, literary and scholarly.

One of the reasons for this variety is English has been borrowing words from more than 50 different languages throughout its formation. The author claims it’s the only language that, due to its richness of vocabulary, needs books on synonyms, such as Roget’s Thesaurus. It’s the international language of business, education, movies, pop music, science and politics.Ģ. English has become the biggest and most influential international language of contemporary times, with some 400M native speakers 400M speakers of English as a second language and 700M speakers of English as a foreign language – and growing (this data has been updated according to the latest info available on Wikipedia). Here are some highlights of the book to which I took the liberty to add a few personal comments.ġ. Readers will also be captivated as they follow the changes English has gone through since its origins and the many influences it has been subject to in its evolution. The good news is, as the book is constantly drawing fascinating comparisons between English and other tongues and dialects, you may appreciate it even if English is not your favorite language.

Packed with historical facts, hilarious anecdotes and scholarly information about the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of English, the book is a pleasure for those who teach, write, edit, work with or simply use and are interested in the most international language of contemporary times. In his funny and enlightening book about English ( The Mother Tongue – English and How It Got That Way), the love and pride of Bill Bryson – the best-selling Anglo-American writer of books on language, travel and science – for his native tongue transpire on every page.

Mother tongue the story of the english language