In the mode of Yale’s successful publication of E.H. Gombrich’s A Little History of the World, one of the world’s leading linguists introduces us to our most critical mode of communication. Crystal (The Story of English) fills this exhilarating romp through the mysteries and vagaries of language, from how infants acquire language to how many words the average adult knows (40,000) and slang (“Linguists love collecting slang. It’s a bit like collecting stamps”). In a concluding minimanifesto, he hopes, among other things, that everyone who has a real interest in language will try to preserve the world’s languages in all their rich variety, whether remote, dying languages or the variations of dialect and accent in their own language. This is especially important today, he says, to note how we shape language and how language shapes us. Crystal smoothly boils down his vast knowledge about the peculiarities of spelling, grammar, and diction, and the influence of new kinds of linguistic style (computer language, texting) on language development. This is the perfect primer for anyone interested in the subject. Illus. (June)
"Demotic, lively, rigorous but unabashedly unpedantic David Crystal remind[s] us that living languages know no boundaries, that they adapt themselves joyously to new conditions. Here he indulges himself with great good humour in his little book of love for the pleasures of language and words worldwide."—Iain Finlayson, The Times
"David Crystal . . . is a charming tour guide. . . . He is excited, not cranky, about how language is changing in the Internet age."—Jan Gardner, The Boston Globe
"A Little Book of Language may be for children (of all ages, as the saying goes), yet it's by no means childish or juvenile. In other words, buy it for your son or daughter, but read it yourself."—Michael Dirda, Washington Post
"Crystal here writes for the true beginner, but does so with his usual clarity and authority, as he ranges from ancient etymologies to modern text-messaging. The chapters—again 40 of them—are made doubly engaging by Jean-Manuel Duvivier's frolicsome, highly stylized black-and-white illustrations."—Michael Dirda, Washington Post
"In his light and amusing A Little Book of Language , David Crystal treats the world's 6,000 tongues—which are disappearing at an alarming rate—as a natural resource no less precious than our oceans and forests."—The Daily Beast
"David Crystal, a well-known linguist, knows about 100,000 words, which is certainly impressive, but he then reminds us that’s only about a 10th of the words in the English language. There’s a good chapter on spelling, a skill that seems to bear surprisingly little relation to intelligence, as well as on the inadequacies of the computer spellchecker, a blind guide indeed. To sample his own feelings for words, see his bit on the word aftermath."—The Sunday Telegraph ". . . an enlightening and entertaining celebration of language and linguistics."—PD Smith, The Guardian "[An] exhilarating romp through the mysteries and vagaries of language. . . . This is the perfect primer for anyone interested in the subject."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A Little Book of Language is a paean to language in all its guises. Crystal has clearly thought long and hard about his subject. . . . [H]e is always revealing and thought-provoking."—David B. Williams, Seattle Times
"Crystal rolls the basics of language—plus a few quirky insights—into one neat little package."—Seed Magazine
"Delightfully approachable . . . [a] 101-level of study with a heavy helping of charm and nary a dash of condescension."—Megan Stride, PopMatters "The prolific British language writer, David Crystal, has produced another winner."—Visualthesuarus.com
"David Crystal is not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language."—Benjamin Zephaniah"An excellent book to put in the hands of anyone first starting to think about the wonders of what we all take for granted, our shared capacity to talk and understand."—Nicholas Ostler, Empires of the Word "Crystal-clear, witty and informative, a book to bring out the linguist in us all."—Roger McGough
PopMatters
PopMatters - Megan Stride
A Little Book of Language , David Crystal treats the world's 6,000 tongues—which are disappearing at an alarming rate—as a natural resource no less precious than our oceans and forests.”—The Daily Beast
Washington Post
Washington Post - Michael Dirda
Seed Magazine
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe - Jan Gardner
A Little Book of Language is a paean to language in all its guises. Crystal has clearly thought long and hard about his subject. . . .[H]e is always revealing and thought-provoking.”--David B. Williams, Seattle Times
Seattle Times - David B. Williams
'Crystal-clear, witty and informative, a book to bring out the linguist in us all.' - Roger McGough
Empires of the Word
"David Crystal is not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language."—Benjamin Zephaniah
“Demotic, lively, rigorous but unabashedly unpedantic David Crystal remind[s] us that living languages know no boundaries, that they adapt themselves joyously to new conditions. Here he indulges himself with great good humour in his little book of love for the pleasures of language and words worldwide.” — Iain Finlayson, The Times (London)
The Times (London) - Iain Finlayson
"Delightfully approachable. . . [a] 101-level of study with a heavy helping of charm and nary a dash of condescension."--Megan Stride, PopMatters
— Megan Stride
“Crystal here writes for the true beginner, but does so with his usual clarity and authority, as he ranges from ancient etymologies to modern text-messaging. The chapters--again 40 of them--are made doubly engaging by Jean-Manuel Duvivier''s frolicsome, highly stylized black-and-white illustrations.”--Michael Dirda, Washington Post
— Michael Dirda
“David Crystal. . . is a charming tour guide. . . . He is excited, not cranky, about how language is changing in the Internet age.”--Jan Gardner, The Boston Globe
— Jan Gardner
“A Little Book of Language is a paean to language in all its guises. Crystal has clearly thought long and hard about his subject. . . .[H]e is always revealing and thought-provoking.”--David B. Williams, Seattle Times
— David B. Williams
“Demotic, lively, rigorous but unabashedly unpedantic David Crystal remind[s] us that living languages know no boundaries, that they adapt themselves joyously to new conditions. Here he indulges himself with great good humour in his little book of love for the pleasures of language and words worldwide.” — Iain Finlayson, The Times (London)
— Iain Finlayson
