In the small town in Switzerland where we used to live they are building something called LITTLE BIG SHOPPING. English is increasingly being adopted, or adapted, as a world language. This erudite and entertaining book explains why. It charts the development of the language and its idiosyncrasies of spelling and pronunciation, explores the origins of pub and place names, surnames, swear words, Cockney and slang, and hilariously illustrates its distortion and absorption into other languages.
(Wendy Swann - bwl 9 June 2001 ) |
