The Unfolding Of Language

Oct 1, 2024 9:32 AM

Author:Guy Deutscher

'A persuasive and beautifully written take on how languages are constantly evolving... an enthralling read about human psychology and anthropology as well as linguistics.' ALEX BELLOS

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'Language is mankind's greatest invention - except of course, that it was never invented'. So begins Guy Deutscher's fascinating investigation into the evolution of language. No one believes that the Roman Senate sat down one day to design the complex system that is Latin grammar, and few believe, these days, in the literal truth of the story of the Tower of Babel. But then how did there come to be so many languages, and of such elaborate design? If we started off with rudimentary utterances on the level of 'man throw spear',how did we end up with sophisticated grammars, enormous vocabularies, and intricately nuanced shades of meaning?

Drawing on recent, groundbreaking discoveries in modern linguistics, Deutscher exposes the elusive forces of creation at work in human communication. Along the way, we learn why German maidens are neuter while German turnips are female, why we have feet not foots, and how great changes in pronunciation may result from simple laziness...

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'Powerful and thrilling' SPECTATOR

'Really ought to be read by anyone who persists in complaining that the English language is going to the dogs' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'I was enthralled'A.S. Byatt, for GUARDIAN 'Books of the Year'

'Highly original... clever and convincing... this book will stretch your mind' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

'Fascinating' BOSTON GLOBE

Reviews

'I was enthralled by Guy Deutscher's The Unfolding of Language, a history of how words came to take the forms they do, and therefore a history of the forms of the human mind.'

—— A.S. Byatt in the Guardian 'Books of the Year

Fascinating... Any curious reader...will find something worth knowing in The Unfolding of Language'

—— Boston Globe

words you never knew you needed but now can’t live without

—— Saga Magazine

...a fantastic collection of words without English counterparts

—— Entertainment Weekly

… will make you think, laugh and discover situations you never knew there was a word for

—— ELLE Canada

Full of the warmth and wit we have come to expect from one of our foremost national treasures.

—— MyWeekly

Selected by The Times' 'Daily Universal Register' as a 'Try This' Book

—— The Times

A fascinating...very readable study of the mysterious art and business of translation...Bellos asks big questions...and comes up with often surprising answers...sparky, thought-provoking

—— Nigeness

Forget the fish-it's David Bellos you want in your ear when the talk is about translation. Bellos dispels many of the gloomy truisms of the trade and reminds us what an infinitely flexible instrument the English language (or any language) is. Sparkling, independent-minded analysis of everything from Nabokov's insecurities to Google Translate's felicities fuels a tender-even romantic-account of our relationship with words.

—— —NATASHA WIMMER, translator of Roberto Bolaño’s Savage Detectives and 2666

Is That a Fish in Your Ear? offers a lively survey of translating puns and poetry, cartoons and legislation, subtitles, news bulletins and the Bible

—— Matthew Reisz , Times Higher Education Supplement

Please read David Bellos's brilliant book

—— Michael Hofmann , Guardian

A clear and lively survey...This book fulfils a real need; there is nothing quite like it.

—— Robert Chandler , Spectator

In his marvellous study of the nature of translation...[David Bellos] has set out to make it fun...Essential reading for anyone with even a vague interest in language and translation - in short, it is a triumph

—— Shaun Whiteside , Independent

A dazzyingly inventive book

—— Adam Thirlwell , New York Times

Witty and perceptive...stimulating, lucid, ultimately cheering

—— Theo Dorgan , Irish Times

Superbly smart, supremely shrewd

—— Carlin Romano , The Chronicle Review

Selected as a National Book Critics' Circle Award Criticism Finalist 2011

—— NBCC

Personal and affectionate tribute

—— Sally Morris , Daily Mail

Affectionate, familial tribute to this many-sided man.

—— The Catholic Herald

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