What Language Is

And What It Isn't and What It Could Be

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Reference, Almanacs & Trivia, Trivia, Language Arts, Linguistics
Cover of the book What Language Is by John McWhorter, Penguin Publishing Group
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: John McWhorter ISBN: 9781101644454
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group Publication: February 12, 2013
Imprint: Avery Language: English
Author: John McWhorter
ISBN: 9781101644454
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication: February 12, 2013
Imprint: Avery
Language: English

New York Times bestselling author and renowned linguist, John McWhorter, explores the complicated and fascinating world of languages. From Standard English to Black English; obscure tongues only spoken by a few thousand people in the world to the big ones like Mandarin - What Language Is celebrates the history and curiosities of languages around the world and smashes our assumptions about "correct" grammar.

An eye-opening tour for all language lovers, What Language Is offers a fascinating new perspective on the way humans communicate. From vanishing languages spoken by a few hundred people to major tongues like Chinese, with copious revelations about the hodgepodge nature of English, John McWhorter shows readers how to see and hear languages as a linguist does. Packed with Big Ideas about language alongside wonderful trivia, What Language Is explains how languages across the globe (the Queen's English and Surinam creoles alike) originate, evolve, multiply, and divide. Raising provocative questions about what qualifies as a language (so-called slang does have structured grammar), McWhorter also takes readers on a marvelous journey through time and place-from Persian to the languages of Sri Lanka- to deliver a feast of facts about the wonders of human linguistic expression.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

New York Times bestselling author and renowned linguist, John McWhorter, explores the complicated and fascinating world of languages. From Standard English to Black English; obscure tongues only spoken by a few thousand people in the world to the big ones like Mandarin - What Language Is celebrates the history and curiosities of languages around the world and smashes our assumptions about "correct" grammar.

An eye-opening tour for all language lovers, What Language Is offers a fascinating new perspective on the way humans communicate. From vanishing languages spoken by a few hundred people to major tongues like Chinese, with copious revelations about the hodgepodge nature of English, John McWhorter shows readers how to see and hear languages as a linguist does. Packed with Big Ideas about language alongside wonderful trivia, What Language Is explains how languages across the globe (the Queen's English and Surinam creoles alike) originate, evolve, multiply, and divide. Raising provocative questions about what qualifies as a language (so-called slang does have structured grammar), McWhorter also takes readers on a marvelous journey through time and place-from Persian to the languages of Sri Lanka- to deliver a feast of facts about the wonders of human linguistic expression.

More books from Penguin Publishing Group

Cover of the book The Titanic Awards by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Off the Grid by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Laughter by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Honor in the Dust by John McWhorter
Cover of the book The Beginning by John McWhorter
Cover of the book An Unseemly Wife by John McWhorter
Cover of the book People of the Book by John McWhorter
Cover of the book You Can Knit! by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Fired to Hired by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Sex Over 50 (Updated and Expanded) by John McWhorter
Cover of the book The Street Sweeper by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Dating the Guy Next Door by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Twice Fallen by John McWhorter
Cover of the book Fighting For You by John McWhorter
Cover of the book The Churchill Factor by John McWhorter
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy