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The Story of English in 100 Words

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About this listen

In this unique new history of the world's most ubiquitous language, linguistics expert David Crystal draws on words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century ('roe', in case you are wondering).

Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient words ('loaf') to cutting edge ('twittersphere') and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue ('and', 'what') to the more fanciful ('fopdoodle'), Crystal takes us along the winding byways of language via the rude, the obscure and the downright surprising.

©2011 David Crystal (P)2023 Profile Books Ltd Linguistics Social Sciences Words, Language & Grammar
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I appreciate the idea of the book, to introduce us to 100 different interesting language topics. Above all, the author, David Crystal, has a great delivery.

A must for novice linguists

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I absolutely loved this! The author's passion for the history of the English language shines through in an enthusiastic, accessible and fascinating narration. Would recommend!

Highly recommended: fascinating and accessible

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