Members with This Book
Most Helpful Reviews
see all reviews
Liked It0 of 1 members found this review helpful “Takes a totally different view of the English language than most books. By concentrating on the uniqueness of English grammar, McWhorter gives a much more enlightening and entertaining perspective on the English language. |
Newest Reviews
see all reviews-
“This was a book club pick. ALthough most of us had a hard time slogging through the linguistic descriptions and grammar lessons, we all found McWhorter's argument that the Celts and Welsh gave much to our English language in the form of the "meaningless " do", to be thought provoking. We all learned in school about the Anglo Saxon's and Norman's influence on our language, but not about the Phoenicians and myriad others.
Robin H wrote this review Saturday, September 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It was great to be reminded that language is not a static thing and that ending sentences with a preposition is ok.”
“Sometimes this book is very interesting. The ideas within are fascinating, but his writing style can be a bit tedious. Always trying to be funny and light when I would have much rather he got to the point. Furthermore, his use of repetition is fairly grating. But it is interesting and a quick read.”
Rexler Lepp wrote this review Wednesday, August 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Takes a totally different view of the English language than most books. By concentrating on the uniqueness of English grammar, McWhorter gives a much more enlightening and entertaining perspective on the English language.
Teachertraveler wrote this review Friday, July 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Who knew 45 pages on "meaningless do" could be so fun?”
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Fun to read. A worthwhile argument and opening-up of the grammar/Celtic/Semitic aspects of the history of the English language. But a little repetitive and, as others have mentioned, self-promoting. I forgive him, however, when he makes me laugh out loud.”
Rosy wrote this review Saturday, June 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“This book provides some very interesting information and theories about the development of the English language. The title says a lot about the writing style: tongue-in-cheek and irreverent. John McWhorter has a bone to pick with standard linguists and he lets you know about it! I learned a lot and laughed quite a bit too, although some of his arguments are more convincing than others.”
Hope N wrote this review Wednesday, May 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Chapters 1, 3 and 5 contained interesting insights into the history of English. Chapters 2 and 4 were rants against certain linguistic ideas.
spinnerrowe wrote this review Monday, March 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Chapter 1 was about how the Celts and their language changed English by adding "do" and "-ing."
Chapter 2 was a rant against those who disagree with the Celtic theory brought up in chapter 1.
Chapter 3 demonstrated how the Vikings chopped of endings and added "their" to the language.
Chapter 4 was a rant against the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.
Chapter 5 proposed that the Phoenicians with their semitic language (Hittite?) changed Proto-Germanic by imbuing it with vowel changes in the verbs, and clearing out verb endings and possibly some case endings.”
displaying 1-6 of 6
