Overview

English has fast become the number one language for everything from business and science to diplomacy and social networking. Worldwide, non-native speakers of English now outnumber natives three to one. Through the fascinating stories of 30 English words used and understood in every corner of the globe, The English is Coming takes readers on an eye-opening journey across culture and commerce, war and peace, time and space. Perfect for culture buffs, armchair travellers and language lovers alike.

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9781439176658

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Reviews

An ardent, spirited look at what is increasingly considered the world's language. -- Kirkus Reviews

With fresh wit and original research, The English Is Coming! beckons the reader on a global safari of English. Both casual tourists and experienced hands will delight in stories that surprise on almost every page. Tracking expertly between the past and the present, between linguistic details and global history, Leslie Dunton-Downer ends with a tantalizing glimpse into that most elusive quarry--the future of English. --Daniel Donoghue, John P. Marquand Professor of English, Harvard University and author of Lady Godiva: A Literary History of the Legend You don't have to be a 'word person' to find Leslie Dunton-Downer's book engaging, illuminating, and even exciting. With ingenious analogies and a healthy dose of humor, she gives us a timely look at the English language--past, present, and future--that's full of surprising insights and unexpected fun. --Kitty Burns Florey, author of Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences Chockablock with facts, figures and interesting tidbits, this is no stodgy history lesson. --The Washington Post Dunton-Downer is persuasive and, better yet, entertaining. She's an affable and learned guide to the history and future of Global English. Her skillful, humorous and thoroughly absorbing book shows us that the English language has always been polyglot, and it continues to evolve into a mirror for our global community. --BookPage An ardent, spirited look at what is increasingly considered the world's language. --Kirkus Reviews A fascinating intellectual romp through the past and the future of the English language. Like the best cocktail party conversation you've ever had, this book is smart, engaging, unpredictable, and leaves you wanting more. Leslie Dunton-Downer has created a masterpiece. If you like words, you will love this book. --Steven D. Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics [Dunton-Downer] explores how the spread of English has led the language, and its speakers, down some fascinating paths--with intense implications for English's future. . . Strongly recommended. --Library Journal

Dunton-Downer is persuasive and, better yet, entertaining. She's an affable and learned guide to the history and future of Global English. Her skillful, humorous and thoroughly absorbing book shows us that the English language has always been polyglot, and it continues to evolve into a mirror for our global community. -- BookPage

With fresh wit and original research, <i>The English Is Coming!</i> beckons the reader on a global safari of English. Both casual tourists and experienced hands will delight in stories that surprise on almost every page. Tracking expertly between the past and the present, between linguistic details and global history, Leslie Dunton-Downer ends with a tantalizing glimpse into that most elusive quarry the future of English. <b> Daniel Donoghue, John P. Marquand Professor of English, Harvard University and author of <i>Lady Godiva: A Literary History of the Legend</i></b>

Author Information

Leslie Dunton-Downer earned a BA, with specialization in Ancient Greek, from Harvard, where she returned for a Ph.D. with distinction in Comparative Literature. Her graduate work focused on English and other languages and literatures of western medieval Europe. Dunton-Downer coauthored the acclaimed Essential Shakespeare Handbook and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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