Notes

113 pages :

colour illustrations, maps.
Adapted from Bill Bryson's Mother tongue.
Summary: Have you ever wondered why the English language turned out like it did? From the first words ever spoken to the earliest dictionaries, this book will take you on a journey through the history of the English language. It will also answer some very important questions... Why did the Vikings bring 'glitter' and 'sky' as well as 'war' and 'invasion'? Why is 'being awful' not necessarily a bad thing? Why do we have Shakespeare to thank for 'getting in a pickle'? Get ready -- because the story of words is an extraordinary one.