A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language,
focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar
Why do we say aI am reading a cataloga instead of aI read a
cataloga? Why do we say adoa 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 Englisha 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, itas not a sin to end a sentence with a
preposition).
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