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daumari's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
3.25
Finished a few days ago but haven't gotten the chance to sit down and write a review yet. 3, maybe 3.5 for me- our Biere Library Storytime Book Club pick for Aug/Sept 2024's Lighthearted theme.
I will say this is a lighter tone than our previous reads on genocide/fascism, but it also felt like a book trapped in amber for 1990. While he does talk about historical influences on linguistics, it's interesting considering this was before widespread adoption of the internet and the speed at which information (and memes!) travel. While Bryson does cite, some of his anecdotes and examples feel a little, well, apocryphal (like I'd be verrrry skeptical if Japanese NEVER had swear words in its millennia long history). I do think this is the most I've said words outloud while reading in a while, though (not counting ones read to my child) because of things in the pronunciation and dialect chapters.
I will say this is a lighter tone than our previous reads on genocide/fascism, but it also felt like a book trapped in amber for 1990. While he does talk about historical influences on linguistics, it's interesting considering this was before widespread adoption of the internet and the speed at which information (and memes!) travel. While Bryson does cite, some of his anecdotes and examples feel a little, well, apocryphal (like I'd be verrrry skeptical if Japanese NEVER had swear words in its millennia long history). I do think this is the most I've said words outloud while reading in a while, though (not counting ones read to my child) because of things in the pronunciation and dialect chapters.
aileen_macalister's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
An interesting if dated look at the English Language. It had me laughing at times and I have highlighted many a fact. I will be fact checking and I have to say some of the language used would not pass the vibe check today.
Overall I would recommend to anyone interested in understanding the history of the English language as long as they are also looking elsewhere for their information. It is a supplement to learning rather than a definitive guide.
Overall I would recommend to anyone interested in understanding the history of the English language as long as they are also looking elsewhere for their information. It is a supplement to learning rather than a definitive guide.
prettyhowtown's review against another edition
The most interesting aspects of this book were the ties between European history and the development of the English language. Unfortunately, the rest of it reeks of the 80s in its ethnocentrism and plain misunderstanding of other cultures. It would be interesting to read a book with this premise that benefited from today's more global culture and an Internet connection for research. As a lover of linguistics, it was hard to admit this book wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
ribbonreuben's review against another edition
3.0
This, by and large, was a fun and educational book. I did learn a lot about the English language, and there were a lot of times where I chuckled at some of his jokes. Unfortunately the subject matter can get a little tedious, and it would be nice to see an update of the book, as the current edition is from 1990.
mtnmama's review against another edition
3.0
Actually more like 3.5 stars. At times it was highly entertaining and informative, but there were also sections I skimmed through or found out-dated.
isabellevictoria's review against another edition
4.0
Super cool and easily digestible history! Had me "oh" ing multiple times as things clicked!
Warning of the use of the hard R as well as some dated ideas considering this was from 1990. But nothing absurdly offensive.
Warning of the use of the hard R as well as some dated ideas considering this was from 1990. But nothing absurdly offensive.
christopherc's review against another edition
1.0
Bill Bryson's book The Mother Tongue has an admirable goal, to present the evolution and current state of the English language in a simple and intriguing fashion. However, it is a book full of factual errors. On nearly every page this is an urban myth, folk etymology, or misunderstanding of linguistics.
Bryson writes charming travelogues - The Lost Continent is a book I'd recommend to any foreigner wanting to learn about rural America - but he is an amateur with an interest in wordplay and not a professional linguist. Much of the book appears to have been thrown together from older books on language for the popular reader, especially those of Otto Jespersen, Mario Pei, and Montagu, which themselves have been criticised for errors and oversimplications.
The errors of the book astound from the start any reader with the slighest knowledge of language. Bryson speaks of the Eskimos having a multitude of words for snow, though this urban myth causes linguists to shudder and has been soundly debunked in The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax. Bryson goes on to say that Russian has no words for "efficiency", "engagement ring", or "have fun", a preposterous statement that can be proved wrong by any Russian speaker. His knowledge of British history is also shaky, as he asserts that the Saxon invaders eliminated entirely the former Celtic inhabitants, but in reality they merely imposed their language and Britons now remain largely the same people genetically as 4,000 years ago.
Every reader who speaks another language besides English will find a most annoying mistake in The Mother Tongue. For me, once a speaker of Esperanto, it was Bryson's ridiculous summary of the language. He begins by misspelling the name of the language's initiator. Then he asserts that the language has no definite articles - it does - but then gives a sample of the language in which this definite article he just denied is used twice (and misspelled once).
These are only a few examples, the book is filled with multitudes more.
While the birth and growth of the English language is a fascinating subject, it's a shame that it is spoiled in The Mother Tongue by an abundance of errors. If you are interested about how English got the way it is today, I'd recommend trying another book, one preferably written by someone with a degree in linguistics.
Bryson writes charming travelogues - The Lost Continent is a book I'd recommend to any foreigner wanting to learn about rural America - but he is an amateur with an interest in wordplay and not a professional linguist. Much of the book appears to have been thrown together from older books on language for the popular reader, especially those of Otto Jespersen, Mario Pei, and Montagu, which themselves have been criticised for errors and oversimplications.
The errors of the book astound from the start any reader with the slighest knowledge of language. Bryson speaks of the Eskimos having a multitude of words for snow, though this urban myth causes linguists to shudder and has been soundly debunked in The Great Eskimo Vocabulary Hoax. Bryson goes on to say that Russian has no words for "efficiency", "engagement ring", or "have fun", a preposterous statement that can be proved wrong by any Russian speaker. His knowledge of British history is also shaky, as he asserts that the Saxon invaders eliminated entirely the former Celtic inhabitants, but in reality they merely imposed their language and Britons now remain largely the same people genetically as 4,000 years ago.
Every reader who speaks another language besides English will find a most annoying mistake in The Mother Tongue. For me, once a speaker of Esperanto, it was Bryson's ridiculous summary of the language. He begins by misspelling the name of the language's initiator. Then he asserts that the language has no definite articles - it does - but then gives a sample of the language in which this definite article he just denied is used twice (and misspelled once).
These are only a few examples, the book is filled with multitudes more.
While the birth and growth of the English language is a fascinating subject, it's a shame that it is spoiled in The Mother Tongue by an abundance of errors. If you are interested about how English got the way it is today, I'd recommend trying another book, one preferably written by someone with a degree in linguistics.
booksny's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Decently informative but author's personal observations sometimes were flippant in a way that didn't quite hit the mark for me.