| Author: |
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| Title: |
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The Mother Tongue - English and How it Got That Way |
| Moochable copies: |
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No copies available |
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| Recommended: |
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| Topics: |
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| Published in: |
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English |
| Binding: |
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Hardcover |
| Pages: |
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270 |
| Date: |
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1990 |
| ISBN: |
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0965316599 |
| Publisher: |
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William Morrow |
| Weight: |
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0.85 pounds |
| Size: |
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5.8 x 8.3 x 1.0 inches |
| Edition: |
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First Edition, Stated |
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| Description: |
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Product Description
Bryson covers the entire history of language, from the first crude murmurings of Neanderthal man thirty thousand years ago to the explosion of English as a global language in this century. We learn why island, freight, and colonel are spelled in such patently unphonetic ways, and four has a u in it but forty does not.
A couple of quotes:
"Any language where the unassuming word 'fly' signifies an annoying insect, a means of travel, and a critical part of a gentleman's apparel is clearly asking to be mangled."
"There are more students of English in China than there are people in the United States."
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| URL: |
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http://bookmooch.com/0965316599 |
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