Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue : The Untold History of English

A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” 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 English— 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, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition). A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say I am reading a catalog instead of I read a catalog Why do we say do 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 English 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, it s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition) Why Do We Say I Am Reading A Catalog Instead Of I Read A Catalog? Why Do We Say Do At All? Is The Way We Speak A Reflection Of Our Cultural Values? Delving Into These Provocative Topics And More, Author Mcwhorter Distills Hundreds Of Years Of Lore Into One Lively History. Covering 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, And Drawing On Genetic And Linguistic Research As Well As A Cache Of Trivia About The Origins Of English Words And Syntax Patterns, Mcwhorter Ultimately Demonstrates The Arbitrary, Maddening Nature Of English--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 Have Been Waiting For.--from Publisher Description. We Speak A Miscegenated Grammar -- A Lesson From The Celtic Impact -- We Speak A Battered Grammar -- Does Our Grammar Channel Our Thought? -- Skeletons In The Closet. John Mcwhorter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-211) And Index.