What Language Is: And What It Isn't and What It Could Be!

A very fun (if somewhat disorganized) book about the linguist's views on languages. ( )

Although McWhorter sometimes gets bogged down in the details, overall this is a fascinating and persuasive book. I plan to read his Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English next. ( )

Languages are intricate and complicated and often quite messy. Especially when you're trying to learn a new one, you'll realize just how many rules there are, and even more exceptions to those rules. Blessed those with a talent for learning foreign tongues. In What Language Is John McWorther introduces the reader in a both insightful and fun way to languages, shedding light not only on their history but also on the way they evolve and change.
Very entertainingly written, yet a bit heavy on actual examples (oh my), this book really intrigued me. The author not only discusses the most spoken languages of our world, but also points at the relevance of languages that seem doomed to extinction in the years to come. Admittedly it was a bit discouraging to read all his examples of translations, though it beautifully showed how intricate languages really are. From simple languages, such as English or Persian, straight to those that make you glad you don't need to actually learn them, such as Nasioi in New Guinea where you have 100 genders (and you thought having to learn two in French was tough). Add a fascinating excursion into Black English too.
As important as the written word may appear, it's noteworthy how McWorther puts an emphasis on language being oral. The spoken word is how it all started after all. And speaking remains the way that much of language is produced.
In short: A highly recommendable book for anyone interested in linguistics! ( )

I'm hardly a linguist by any stretch, but I'm chatty and I love trivia. As someone learning a second language as an adult, I'm interested

The title -- and subtitle -- pretty succinctly summarizes the point of this book: what language is, isn't, and could be. Written for, I presume, an American audience (certainly an English-speaking audience), the book argues that 'normal' languages like English are in fact, not normal, and that many of the obscure, soon-to-be extinct languages spoken by small populations around the world are interesting, complicated, relevant, and evolved. More importantly, because a language isn't written doesn't mean it is less in value, importance, or sophistication.

I found this book a bit heavy at times, or more technical than I anticipated in a piece of popular non-fiction, but my wife found it very readable (but she also reads a lot of non-fiction). As the book progressed, I found it easier to understand -- either McWhorter's style grew less technical or I was starting to 'get' it.

Using 'idiom' as an acronym/frame, McWhorter's argument is that languages are ingrown, dissheveled, intricate, oral, and mixed. Some of this went over my head (the entire chapter on languages being ingrown might as well have been written in, well, a foreign language!) but other chapters immediately made sense. McWhorter helps by including charts and maps of the areas and languages he's referring to, which is immeasurably helpful.

McWhorter's writing, while very smart, also is humorous. He's someone who clearly loves what he does, and he loves untangling linguistic mysteries. Reading this was like hanging out with a very smart friend -- I might have gotten lost now and then, but ultimately, I enjoyed myself. ( )

An absolute must for all libraries. My review may be read on my book review blog Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.com/2011/08/book-review-what-language-is-by-john-mcwhorter.... ( )