Words on the Move: Why English Won't - And Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally) (Hardcover) by John McWhorter

from jsoos

Early Reviewer review. John McWhorter wants us to view the English language in both the present and future tenses - not to solely ask what happened to English in the past. Let me quote from the introduction; "We do not watch a parade and wonder why those people just don't stand still. Language is...

from BookWallah

Language is not static. Words and meaning change over time. Thinking of language like a river slowly flowing over culture and picking up new elements along the way. Some chapters get a bit technical but generally the text is accessible to the educated reader. Recommended for all who like explorin...

from hardlyhardy

Time changes things. The color of your hair and the tautness of your skin. Clothing styles. Moral standards. Even rivers and mountain ranges. Yet one of the most difficult changes to accept is that relating to the language we speak everyday. Whatever our political preferences, we tend to be conse...

from EowynA

Perfectly named book!. Words are usually described by listing its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) with a list of definitions. Examination in more depth might prescribe proper usage of the word. This book approaches words differently, more as if our experience of words is a snapshot o...

from japaul22

Columbia University English professor and linguist John McWhorter has written an amusing and educational book about the English language. He explores how it has changed and is changing to bring comfort to those of us (like me) who tend to get bent out of shape about bad speaking or writing habits...