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Bill Bryson; Mother Tongue - ‘The World’s language’
22nd October 2011
Chapter one of Bill Bryson’s bestselling ode to our very own ‘mother tongue’, the English language, gives an eloquent introduction – for an American. With a humorously succinct turn of phrase and take on the global use, or misuse, of the English Language his writing both educates and entertains. For an accurate and acute surmise of chapter one, try the first line; ‘More than 300million people in the word speak English, and the rest, it sometimes seems, try to’.
Beginning with this all too familiar premise, Bryson applies his own brand of engaging British humour (credited to his years spent living and working in
North Yorkshire ) to the history of the English Language, and he’ll tell you something you don’t know.
Whether you’re Tom, Dick or Harry, a mathematician or linguist extraordinaire; Bryson makes a strong case for any reader wishing to enhance their knowledge of English without dragging their feet. With all the talent of a well-read writer and casual, comical observer of the phenomenon of language, Bryson makes light of the ‘idiosyncrasies’ and ‘booby traps’ of the English Language and opens our eyes to the fascinating, secret world of the ‘Mother Tongue’ and its ‘deceptive complexity’. Bryson writes; ‘But imagine trying to explain to a foreigner what ‘what’ means. It takes the
Oxford English Dictionary five pages and almost 15,000 words to manage the task…’ and have you ever imagined it?
Almost imperceptibly he begins introducing the terrifying, technical terminology of what we know as ‘wot we speak, innit’ in a way that just makes sense, and never leaves you behind. He incites; ‘That is jargon – the practice of never calling a spade a spade when you might instead call it a manual earth-restructuring implement…it is one of the great curses of modern English’. Bryson calls a horse a horse.
However, chapter once is perceptibly a multi-tasker – by touching on the global, political and social aspects of English Language, and others, Bryson’s work may be criticised for the lack of depth it hints at and to some, this may make for a disappointing read.
By offering teasing tit-bits and amusing anecdotal evidence it is, in places, a laugh out loud read. As easy as it is to pick up, I’ve found it hard to put down; it provides an engrossing, absorbing read and you’ll be fast turning through the pages.
Bestselling Bill Bryson (OBE) has put forward ‘A delightful, amusing and provoking survey… packed with curiosities and enlightenment on every page’. – Sunday Express.
Bill Bryson’s Mother Tongue is a highly recommended read, with accompanying works such as; ‘Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words’ and ‘Made in ’ also available.
By Ellen Grose-Hodge