The Story of English in 100 Words (CD) (ISBN-13: 9781445865195)

In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences, and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century ("roe," in case you are wondering). Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ("loaf") to cutting-edge words ("twittersphere"), and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ("and," "what") to the more fanciful ("fopdoodle"), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language via the rude, the obscure, and the downright surprising.

Author: David Crystal
ISBN-10: 144586519X
ISBN-13: 9781445865195
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Language: English
Published: 12/01/2011
Format: CD
Weight: 0.45lbs
Size: 5.50h x 5.40w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Audio File 02/01/2013 pg. 38
Library Journal 02/01/2013 pg. 42