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The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English

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Author: Henry Hitchings
Publisher: John Murray
Category: Book

List Price: ~~Ł16.99~~
Buy New: Ł9.54
You Save: Ł7.45 (44%)

New (26) Used (5) from Ł9.54

Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars

1 reviews
Sales Rank: 1617

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 432
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.7

ISBN: 0719564549
EAN: 9780719564543
ASIN: 0719564549

Publication Date: April 3, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new book delivered in the UK in 2-3 days.

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Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable and serious April 13, 2008
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

This is a fluently written and interesting account of English's adoption of words from other languages - ranging from the obvious ones, like French, to the less obvious (Persian, Dutch, Portuguese). It is, as such, a history of English vocabulary, but also, more compellingly, a history of British relationships with other cultures. The subject matter might sound quite academic, but this is an engaging read, lit up by lots of memorable examples. It's a fascinating and thought-provoking take on history.