the power of babel summary

For instance he proves that the differences between several German dialects are much more substantial than those between Russian/Ukrainian, Spanish/Portuguese or Danish/Swedish/Norwegian.

Over time, many languages have become extinct, whether by lack of use or by assimilation into other languages. Using the analogy of evolution, McWhorter demonstrates how the diversity of spoken languages have deveA good book is thought-provoking in such a way that it promotes the reader to extend the author’s argument outside the confines of the author’s subject. Read more Read less click to … Writing aJohn McWhorter is a creologist (creolologist? Be the first to ask a question about The Power of Babel Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. I take away a couple of interesting insights. But that is only the start of McWhorter's entertaining and informative tour through the evolution of language.This is another fun language book by McWhorter.

The mind-blowing craziness of some of the 6,000 languages spoken around the globe leaves my head spinning.Language fascinates.

-Not only to gain a new perspective and understand another culture more deeply, but also to understand English more.. As many of our words have been shared from other languages. I particularly enjoyed the summing up that explained why the rate of language change has slowed considerably recently and the sections where you could use what you'd learned to detect the language families. We’d love your help.

Deeply engrossing, humorous, and accessible to non-linguists.

We've all heard and read about how languages can change in pronunciation over time, and how word meanings can evolve. I don't know if professional linguists will accept the thesis or its argument, but to me was an extremely lucid and enlightneing bookThis was one of the most fascinating books I have ever read.

Unfortunately, I don't have much of a gift of simplifying the field for average people, and I've longed for a simple introduction that I could recommend. Welcome back. For...John McWhorter’s study of language as it has developed over the millennia is geared toward a general audience. Once written, language is much slower to change than it would be if only used orally; without a written form, languages are on a much faster track for extinction. This book, by linguist John McWhorter, is also fascinating, although his perspective is totally different from that of Pinker.For some strange reason, I am fascinated by the study of linguistics. The title of this book is aptly named after the biblical story of the Tower of Babel. It also haI picked this book up with a very different impression of what it would contain - I really was hoping for some sweeping historical tale of language spread and change. This is another fun language book by McWhorter. His many allusions and charming turns of phrase help us amateurs follow along joyfully. ), like Derek Bickerton; he has written a book specifically on how language changes. Another great one by McWhorter. This book, by linguist John McWhorter, is also fascinating, although his perspective is totally different from that of Pinker.McWhorter has written a comprehensible, entrancing overview of how language has developed, changed, morphed and been reinvented millions of times in human history.McWhorter has written a comprehensible, entrancing overview of how language has developed, changed, morphed and been reinvented millions of times in human history.As a graduate student of historical linguistics, I often find myself asked to explain aspects of contemporary language change or the reconstruction of proto-languages to interested friends or family. It also has some great and varied examples and an interesting exploration of creoles (yes, plural! McWhorter’s main argument is that languages have been in a constant evolutionary flux since the first humans began … -Not only to gain a new perspective and understand another culture more deeply, but also to understand English more.. As many of our words have been shared from other languages.