Bill bryson was born in 1951 in des moines, iowa, and grew up there, but spent most of his adult life in britain. In looking for easy to read books on philology, books for the amateur, i came across bill bryson s the mother tongue. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 397 pages and is available in mass market paperback format. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 270 pages and is available in paperback format. Bill bryson is the new york times bestselling author of at home, a walk in the woods, the lost continent, made in america, the mother tongue, a short history of nearly everything winner of the aventis prize and various other works. Bill bryson is an american journalist who has lived for long periods in england, which means that he is in a good position to write a book about english that takes account of both versions and the subtle and notsosubtle differences between them, which is what he has. With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill bryson the acclaimed author of the lost continentbrilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. Bill bryson is the new york times bestselling author of at home, a walk in the woods, the lost continent, made in america,the mother tongue, a short history of nearly everything winner of the aventis prize and various other works. Bill bryson s classic mother tongue is a highly readable and hilarious tale of how english came to be the worlds language. The mother tongue is a book by bill bryson which wittily compiles the history and origins of the english language and the languages various quirks.
The mother tongue 1990 provides a unique and personal look at the history of the english language. Born in des moines, iowa, he now lives in england, where he has worked for both the times and independent and written for most other. If you find the tape version, you will want to play the tape over again as it cruses through many concepts that leave you thinking and speculating how it. A merry and bright baedeker to the english language, its history, character, and probable future. This is a very common problem for people who immigrated to united state from other countries and who grew up under nonnative englishspeaking family as a firstgeneration asian american. Various individuals are looked down upon because of their poor english language skills. He does go into early languages, then settles on english as the closest thing we have today to a universal language. The story of the english language bill bryson 9780141040080. His new number one sunday times bestseller is the road to little dribbling more notes from a small island. Apr 09, 2011 mother tongue in the essay, mother tongue, amy tan informs the reader of the language barrier matters that she underwent as an asian american. Bill bryson s bestselling books include one summer, a short history of nearly everything, at home, a walk in the woods, neither here nor there, made in america, and the mother tongue.
Bill brysons classic mother tongue is a highly readable and hilarious tale of how english came to be the worlds language. English, like spanish and portuguese, is a language that has two closely linked forms, one in the old world, one in the new. The mother tongue english and how it got that way paperback by bill bryson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The book discusses the indoeuropean origins of english, the growing status of english as a global language, the complex etymology of english words. With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill bryson brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill bryson the acclaimed author of the lost continent brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. No late work accepted what do you understand about language and culture at this point.
Having groused his way across america in the lost continent 1989, bryson the mother tongue, 1990 now turns his attention to europe. Youll learn how, thanks to its flexibility and adaptability, english has endured and flourished, despite centuries of invasions, uprisings and censorship. Another travel book, a walk in the woods, has become a major film starring robert redford, nick nolte and emma thompson. The main characters of this non fiction, history story are. Are bill brysons books a short history of nearly everything. A short history of nearly everything is one of the best popular science book ever written. I was frequently laughing outloud while reading the mother tongue not to mention muttering words under my breath to hear the pronunciation points that bryson was making. Instead, a gentle humor, enamored of oddities, warms his discussion of the origins of english, its. Everyone has his say about bill brysons the mother tongue. The main characters of this non fiction, travel story are bill bryson.
The mother tongue by bill bryson by tonya brady on prezi. Bill bryson was born in the american midwest, and now lives in the uk. Better known for his travel memoirs a walk in the woods and in a sunburned country, this early work of his traces the history of the english language in a humorous way. The mother tongue is bill brysons tome about how the english language that we know and love or hate, depending on ones viewpoint came to be the entity that it is today, and the more interesting idiosyncrasies that are present within it after a discussion of language in general, and a severely outdated look at neanderthal man which must be excused bryson wrote this in. Although bill bryson published this book in 1990 and much more research has been done in this area since that time, the mother tongue is still a delightful look at the mysteries and peculiarities of the english language, both british and american.
Bill brysons bestselling travel books include the lost continent and notes from a small island, which in a national poll was voted the book that best represents britain. Bill bryson is the new york times bestselling author of at home, a walk in the woods, the lost continent, made in america, the mother tongue, a short history of nearly everythingwinner of the aventis prizeand various other works. Born in des moines, iowa, bryson lives in england with his wife and children. Probably better known for his travel books, bryson has also written three books about the english language, mother tongue being the first. Oct 23, 2001 with dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill brysonthe acclaimed author of the lost continentbrilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. Bill bryson is the bestselling author of at home, a walk in the woods, the lost continent, made in america, the mother tongue, and a short history of nearly everything, winner of the aventis prize.
The varieties of english in the world, the differences between british and american english, and the various roots of english are among the main topics. Bill bryson is not just a writer but a former newspaperman. He takes the history of the english language and makes it interesting. I was shocked and disappointed after reading the first chapter of the mother tongue. Includes bibliographical references published by arrangement with william morrow and company, inc the worlds language the dawn of language global language the first thousand years where words come from pronunciation varieties of english spelling good english and bad order out of chaos old world, new world english as a world language names swearing. Who else could rhapsodize about the colorless murmur of the schwa with a straight face. Its the sort of book that fills your head with all sorts of random trivia that must be shared at the next watercooler conversation or over ones next meal. This study guide consists of approximately 29 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the mother tongue. The mother tongue chapter 3 global language summary. The mother tongue audiobook, written by bill bryson. The story of the english language until now in regards to the publication weve got mother tongue. A former chancellor of durham university, he was president of the campaign to protect rural england for five years, and is an honorary fellow of the royal society. Mother tongue was published by penguin books in 1990, the third book in bill bryson s short ish history of book writing. Born in des moines, iowa, he now lives in england, where he has worked for both the times and independent and written for most other major british and american.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1990, and was written by bill bryson. Language, never forget, is more fashion than science, and matters of usage, spelling and pronunciation tend to wander around like hemlines. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat why you can talk but your dog cant, to the fine lost art of swearing, bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, secondrate. Oct 01, 2009 bill bryson was born in des moines, iowa, and grew up there, but has spent most of his adult life in britain. Too bad even bill bryson couldnt make this terribly entertaining. Apparently bill bryson presents a lot of material in a witty and easy to read fashion. His books on the english language include mother tongue and troublesome words, both published by penguin bill bryson is the author of several bestsellers including the lost continent.
The book discusses the indoeuropean origins of english, the growing status of english as a global language, the complex etymology of english. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat why you can talk but your dog cant, to the fine lost art of swearing, bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an. Mother tongue was published by penguin books in 1990, the third book in bill brysons short ish history of book writing. The first edition of the novel was published in 1997, and was written by bill bryson. The mother tongue is the story of the evolution of the english language, from its humble beginnings as a germanic tongue to what it has evolved into over the centuries. He has worked for a number of newspapers, including the times and the independent. He does go into early languages, then settles on english as the closest thing we have today to a. What are some of the elements that complicate other languages.
Oct 14, 2009 in late summer, they met to discuss bill brysons the mother tongue william morrow, 1990, a funfactpacked, boisterous embrace of the english language and its history. The book covers speech from a historical view, a physical view, an environmental view, a utilitarian view, and many other views. This is a very common problem for people who immigrated to united state from other countries and who grew up under nonnative englishspeaking family as a firstgeneration asian. The mother tongue chapter 5 where words come from summary. This is excellent and is exactly what i want to hear about books like this that i want to read.
The mother tongue by bill bryson overdrive rakuten. Brysons crankiness could have proved amusingafter all, mark twains. His books on the english language include mother tongue and troublesome words, both published by penguin bill bryson is the author of several bestsellers including the lost continent, neither here nor. Free download or read online a walk in the woods pdf epub book. The book discusses the indoeuropean origins of english, the growing status of english as a global language, the complex etymology of english words, the dialects of english, spelling reform. Where words come from if you have a morbid fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, there is a word for it. The story of the english language feedback users have never still still left the writeup on. About the author 1991 bill bryson is the bestselling author of at home, a walk in the woods, the lost continent, made in america, the mother tongue, and a short history of nearly everything, winner of the aventis prize. In a nonscholar way he provides the reader with an instructive introduction to its history. If it is any consolation to americans, bryson, an exmidwesterner who has lived in england for the past 15 years, finds almost nothing to praise between the arctic circle and the bosporus. Bill bryson s bestselling books include a walk in the woods, the life and times of the thunderbolt kid, and a short history of nearly everything which won the aventis prize in britain and the descartes prize, the european unions highest literary.
Its the sort of book that fills your head with all sorts of random trivia that must be shared. Where most philologists take themselves much too seriously. Jul 17, 1990 the mother tongue is the story of the evolution of the english language, from its humble beginnings as a germanic tongue to what it has evolved into over the centuries. This isnt a scholarly journal filled with phrases and abbreviations only known to graduate students. With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill brysonthe acclaimed author of the lost continentbrilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. Bill brysons bestselling books include one summer, a short history of nearly everything, at home, a walk in the woods, neither here nor there, made in america, and the mother tongue. The mother tongue isbn 0380715430 is a book by bill bryson which compiles the history and origins of the english language and its various quirks.
From the first descent of the larynx into the throat why you can talk but your dog cant, to the fine lost art of swearing, bryson. His books on the english language include mother tongue and troublesome words, both published by penguin. Bill bryson covers language its self with a focus on english. The mother tongue bill bryson with dazzling wit and astonishing insight, bill bryson the acclaimed author of the lost continentbrilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the english language. Bill bryson was born in des moines, iowa, and grew up there, but has spent most of his adult life in britain. Born in des moines, iowa, he now lives in england with his wife and children. American expatriate to britain bryson proves a witty and knowing guide here, with scarcely a trace of the sneer that spoiled his popular tour of smalltown america, the lost continent 1989. Bill brysons bestselling books include a walk in the woods, the life and times of the thunderbolt kid, and a short history of nearly everything which won the aventis prize in britain and the descartes prize, the european unions highest literary.
9 1098 707 1347 1103 11 1132 805 1503 1008 1471 979 852 1386 677 1416 1406 912 109 301 182 135 864 7 1177 1243 65 1470 1372 509 1064