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The Mother Tongue - English And How It Got That Way

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. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can’t), to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world’s largest growth industries.

If high-school texts were written by Bill Bryson, we might eliminate the drop out problem. “The Mother Tongue” is really a history book that uses language as a metric for change and for the myriad influences through the centuries. Since language is such an integral and defining component of any society, it makes a superb window into the gritty, human side of history.

The amazing thing about this book is how damned funny it is. Bryson crack’s a few jokes along the way but otherwise deadpans the narrative. Bryson’s delightfully droll delivery somehow elevates the humor beyond easy description – and you get an education as well. Bryson’s follow-on book, “Made in America” is just as good. I enthusiastically recommend both.

Everything Bryson has written is perfect, but I recommend The Mother Tongue to the newcomer because it charms and endears from the first: “More than 300 million people in the world speak English and the rest, it seems, try to. It would be charitable to say the results are sometimes mixed.” From this point, you know you are in the hands of a sharp, witty writer who will entertain you and learn ya’ sumpin’, too!

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A great introduction to the study of the English language through linguistics and etymology. The title, “English, and How it Got That Way” is as accurate as can be. Almost everyone is aware of the Germanic origins of English, and the Classical Latin and Greek influences, but other influences- Turkish, Indian, Celtic, etc- are covered and made clear. Although Gaelic was spoken throughout the British Isles, prior to the Roman conquest in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, shockingly little of it remains in modern spoken English, and Bryson tells us why. This and other fascinating bits of information await the reader, and all is presented in a very accessible, and approachable manner. Academics may find some details and specifics wanting, but for the armchair etymologist, this book is a must-read.

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Info For The Mother Tongue – English And How It Got That Way

• Paperback: 272 pages ( Download PDF : )


• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reissue edition (1990)


• Language: English


• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8 inches


• Author: Bill Bryson


• ISBN-10: 0380715430


• ISBN-13: 978-0380715435

About the Author

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. He lives in England with his wife.

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