Inhaltsangabe
An unusual and authoritative 'natural history of languages' that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another at different times in history.
The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared language is what binds any community together, and makes possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it.
Yet the history of the world’s great languages has rarely been examined. ‘Empires of the Word’ is the first to bring together the tales in all their glorious variety: the amazing innovations – in education, culture and diplomacy – devised by speakers in the Middle East; the uncanny resilience of Chinese throughout twenty centuries of invasions; the progress of Sanskrit from north India to Java and Japan; the struggle that gave birth to the languages of modern Europe; and the global spread of English.
Besides these epic achievements, language failures are equally fascinating: why did Germany get left behind? Why did Egyptian, which had survived foreign takeovers for three millennia, succumb to Mohammed’s Arabic? Why is Dutch unknown in modern Indonesia, given that the Netherlands had ruled the East Indies for as long as the British ruled India?
As this book engagingly reveals, the language history of the world shows eloquently the real characters of peoples; it also shows that the language of the future will, like the languages of the past, be full of surprises.
Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.
Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor
Nicholas Ostler is a scholar and scientist of languages, who has a working knowledge of 26 languages and who, five years ago, set up the Foundation for Endangered Languages, an international organisation, to provide funding and support to document and revitilise languages in peril. With his own company Linguacubun Ltd., he regularly advises governments and corporations on policy in the field of computers and natural language processing.
„Über diesen Titel“ kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.
Weitere beliebte Ausgaben desselben Titels
Suchergebnisse für Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Foto des Verkäufers
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Anbieter: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, Vereinigtes Königreich
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Zustand: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers rev7414968240
Gebraucht kaufen
EUR 9,02
Versand:
EUR 9,16
Von Vereinigtes Königreich nach USA
Anzahl: 1 verfügbar
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Anbieter: HPB-Emerald, Dallas, TX, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
paperback. Zustand: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers S_445617464
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Anbieter: HPB-Diamond, Dallas, TX, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
paperback. Zustand: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers S_439973665
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Anbieter: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Zustand: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 00092586976
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word / A Language History of the World
ISBN 10: 0007118716
ISBN 13: 9780007118717
Gebraucht
Softcover
Anbieter: Antiquariaat Hortus Conclusus, Bergambacht, Niederlande
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Paperback. Rug iets verkleurd, eerste 10 pp. met aantekeningen in potlood, verder in (zeer) goede staat. Please see description or ask for photos. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 216626198
Gebraucht kaufen
EUR 5,00
Versand:
EUR 14,50
Von Niederlande nach USA
Anzahl: 1 verfügbar
Foto des Verkäufers
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World
Anbieter: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Zustand: As New. Unread book in perfect condition. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 4232560
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Anbieter: Anybook.com, Lincoln, Vereinigtes Königreich
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Zustand: Fair. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has soft covers. Clean from markings. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,900grams, ISBN:9780007118717. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 9917672
Gebraucht kaufen
EUR 7,86
Versand:
EUR 14,73
Von Vereinigtes Königreich nach USA
Anzahl: 1 verfügbar
Foto des Verkäufers
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World
Anbieter: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Zustand: New. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 4232560-n
Foto des Verkäufers
Empires of the Word (Paperback)
Verlag:
HarperCollins Publishers, London, 2006
ISBN 10: 0007118716
ISBN 13: 9780007118717
Neu
Paperback
Anbieter: Grand Eagle Retail, Bensenville, IL, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
Paperback. Zustand: new. Paperback. An unusual and authoritative 'natural history of languages' that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another at different times in history. The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared language is what binds any community together, and makes possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it.Yet the history of the worlds great languages has rarely been examined. Empires of the Word is the first to bring together the tales in all their glorious variety: the amazing innovations in education, culture and diplomacy devised by speakers in the Middle East; the uncanny resilience of Chinese throughout twenty centuries of invasions; the progress of Sanskrit from north India to Java and Japan; the struggle that gave birth to the languages of modern Europe; and the global spread of English.Besides these epic achievements, language failures are equally fascinating: why did Germany get left behind? Why did Egyptian, which had survived foreign takeovers for three millennia, succumb to Mohammeds Arabic? Why is Dutch unknown in modern Indonesia, given that the Netherlands had ruled the East Indies for as long as the British ruled India?As this book engagingly reveals, the language history of the world shows eloquently the real characters of peoples; it also shows that the language of the future will, like the languages of the past, be full of surprises. An unusual and authoritative 'natural history of languages' that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another at different times in history. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 9780007118717
Beispielbild für diese ISBN
Empires of the Word
Anbieter: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, USA
Verkäuferbewertung 5 von 5 Sternen
PAP. Zustand: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers GB-9780007118717