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The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language

by John Mcwhorter

The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language Cover

ISBN13: 9780060520854
ISBN10: 006052085x
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

There are approximately six thousand languages on Earth today, each a descendant of the tongue first spoken by Homo sapiens some 150,000 years ago.While laying out how languages mix and mutate over time, linguistics professor John McWhorter reminds us of the variety within the species that speaks them, and argues that, contrary to popular perception, language is not immutable and hidebound, but a living, dynamic entity that adapts itself to an ever-changing human environment.

Full of humor and imaginative insight, The Power of Babel draws its illustrative examples from languages around the world, including pidgins, Creoles, and nonstandard dialects.

Synopsis:

There are approximately 6,000 languages on Earth today, each a descendant of the tongue first spoken by Homo sapiens some 150,000 years ago. While laying out how languages mix and mutate over time, a noted linguistics professor argues that language is a living, dynamic entity that adapts itself to an ever-changing human environment.

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Average customer rating based on 2 comments:
itsay17, November 14, 2008 (view all comments by itsay17)
With regards on your written synopsis I do believe that this book will open the mind of people to give importance in their own language. I decided to put not a rating because if given a chance to read those book I could probably give a rate and more profound comment.thank you and more power!
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jhun022, June 5, 2007 (view all comments by jhun022)
guys this will help you!!! it he
lp me 2
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780060520854
Subtitle:
A Natural History of Language
Author:
McWhorter, John
Author:
McWhorter, John H.
Author:
McWhorter, John
Author:
by John McWhorter
Publisher:
Harper Perennial
Location:
New York
Subject:
General
Subject:
Linguistics
Subject:
Language and languages
Subject:
Historical linguistics
Edition Description:
Perennial
Series Volume:
31
Publication Date:
January 2003
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
352
Dimensions:
7.96x5.32x.89 in. .59 lbs.
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