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A bestselling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes, and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it
Language is always changing, but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it's the use of literally to mean "figuratively" rather than "by the letter," or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like What's the ask? It often seems as if the language is deteriorating before our eyes.
But, the truth is different and a lot less scary, as John McWhorter shows in this delightful and eye-opening exploration of how English has always been in motion and continues to evolve today. Drawing examples from everyday life and employing a generous helping of humor, he shows that these shifts are a natural process common to all languages, and that we should embrace and appreciate these changes, not condemn them.
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or, that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or, that the suffix in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And, have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
McWhorter encourages us to marvel at the dynamism and resilience of the English language, and his book offers a lively journey through which we discover that words are ever on the move and our lives are all the richer for it.
Language is always changing, but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it's the use of literally to mean "figuratively" rather than "by the letter," or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like What's the ask? It often seems as if the language is deteriorating before our eyes.
But, the truth is different and a lot less scary, as John McWhorter shows in this delightful and eye-opening exploration of how English has always been in motion and continues to evolve today. Drawing examples from everyday life and employing a generous helping of humor, he shows that these shifts are a natural process common to all languages, and that we should embrace and appreciate these changes, not condemn them.
Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or, that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or, that the suffix in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And, have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?
McWhorter encourages us to marvel at the dynamism and resilience of the English language, and his book offers a lively journey through which we discover that words are ever on the move and our lives are all the richer for it.
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Reviews
"If you want to hate on new developments in English, you should at least understand why. With a combination of linguistic erudition and ready wit, John McWhorter takes us on a tour of a thousand years of the history of English, showing how language change is natural, unavoidable, and fascinating. You'll come away with a better realization of why you feel the way you do"
and why you shouldn't."
"John McWhorter's Words on the Move has a deeper point than most language books: it's focused on the ordinary words which do most of the grunt work of communicating, but which we rarely give much thought to. It's full of little puzzles and surprises that stop us in our tracks and make us aware of the gentle breezes that are always blowing our words hither and yon. McWhorter is awfully good at list
I never thought of that.' So will you."