Book description
A bestselling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes -- and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it
Language is always changing -- but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be…
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Why read it?
1 author picked Words on the Move as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Any book on language by John McWhorter is worth reading, but this particular one has become my new favorite!
I found it absolutely unputdownable and, at times, hilarious. McWhorter takes a very refreshing and entertaining approach to language evolution by uncovering the hidden, constantly changing history of words, grammar, and sounds.
I was especially awed by McWhorter’s choices of fun examples, well explained. Most impressive, however, is how effortlessly he explains complex concepts like semantic drift and vowel shifts, making them perfectly clear to readers with absolutely no background in linguistics.
From Asya's list on how language works that even a linguist enjoys reading.
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