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Entangled Tongues
A Short History of the English Language or The Influence of French on English
ENTANGLED TONGUES: A Short History of the English Language or The influence of French on English
The French point of view: La langue anglaise n existe pas. C est du francais mal prononce. (The English language doesn t exist. It is badly pronounced French.) Georges Clemenceau, French Prime Minister, 1917-1920.
The English point of view: So now they have made our English tongue a hodgepodge of all other speeches. Edmund Spenser, English poet, 1552-1599
Kisch takes a brief look at the building blocks of modern English
Where does the English that is currently spoken come from? Why does it function the way that it does? These are the questions that the author addresses in this examination of the many different pieces that have come together to form modern English. As hundreds of years of English history are rushed through, the book has many fascinating points to make. An edifying account of the evolution of a complex language.
Kirkus Reviews
a brisk, brief overview of how we got modern English... Kisch s survey is inviting, unfussy, and practical, revealing not just the history but what it all means for us today... Fascinating insights abound. Like most of her examples, her explanation of the Bard s use of thou, thee, and you is inspired and inspiring. this is the kind of enticing introduction to a topic that makes readers want to dig deeper. A helpful bibliography, endnotes for future research, and illustrations ground the history.
BookLife: Editor s Pick
an enjoyable slice of linguistic history appreciated by students of French or English literature/language and European history enthusiasts alike.
Blueink Review
a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of the English language. Kisch presents complex linguistic changes in a clear, organized manner that makes the subject approachable without sacrificing depth.
Midwest Book Review
An excellent read. The writing is on point, as would be expected in a well-researched book, but Kisch also makes it accessible to readers like me who are going in pretty green. I learned so much. Overall, a great mix of linguistic detail with historical narrative.
Readers Favorite: 5 stars
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Carol Williams Kisch (M.A.) attended schools in California, New Zealand, and France, received a degree in French literature from Swarthmore College, and worked as a French- English translator for USAID in West Africa. She taught the English language in West Africa and France and then, at the University of California, taught academic writing to foreign students, as well as language teaching methodologies to foreign and American teachers, for 38 years.
