The Secret Life of Words
How English Became English
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Baker & Taylor
A wide-ranging history of English language and vocabulary reveals hidden etymologies to reveal how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages and reflects key social changes.
McMillan Palgrave
… More »
A wide-ranging history of English language and vocabulary reveals hidden etymologies to reveal how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages and reflects key social changes.
McMillan Palgrave
Words are essential to our everyday lives.
Baker & Taylor
A wide-ranging history of English language and vocabulary reveals hidden etymologies to reveal how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages and reflects key social changes.
McMillan Palgrave
Baker
& Taylor
Traces the history of English language and vocabulary, revealing hidden etymologies that show key social changes and how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages.
« Less
A wide-ranging history of English language and vocabulary reveals hidden etymologies to reveal how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages and reflects key social changes.
McMillan Palgrave
Words are essential to our everyday lives. An average person spends his or her day enveloped in conversations, e-mails, phone calls, text messages, directions, headlines, and more. But how often do we stop to think about the origins of the words we use? Have you ever thought about which words in English have been borrowed from Arabic, Dutch, or Portuguese? Try admiral, landscape, and marmalade, just for starters.
The Secret Life of Words is a wide-ranging account not only of the history of English language and vocabulary, but also of how words witness history, reflect social change, and remind us of our past. Henry Hitchings delves into the insatiable, ever-changing English language and reveals how and why it has absorbed words from more than 350 other languages—many originating from the most unlikely of places, such as shampoo from Hindi and kiosk from Turkish. From the Norman Conquest to the present day, Hitchings narrates the story of English as a living archive of our human experience. He uncovers the secrets behind everyday words and explores the surprising origins of our most commonplace expressions. The Secret Life of Words is a rich, lively celebration of the language and vocabulary that we too often take for granted.
Baker
& Taylor
Traces the history of English language and vocabulary, revealing hidden etymologies that show key social changes and how English has absorbed words from hundreds of other languages.
« Less
Imprint:
New York - Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages:
440
Edition:
1st American ed
ISBN:
9780374254100, 0374254109
Language:
English
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (p. 377-404) and indexes
Statement of responsibility:
Henry Hitchings
Characteristics:
440 p. ;,24 cm.
Author (Original Script):
Hitchings, Henry
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