Origins of the specious will teach you why it is ok to bravely split an infinitive, why using aint aint so bad, and why ending a sentence with a preposition is where its at. It seems that many do so because it gives them a basis on which to categorize people socially. The fact is that we may never be able to explain definitively the origins of human vocal language. Possibly the most wellknown myth, at least where judaism and christianity are common, is that found in the hebrew bible, specifically in genesis. This book helps dispel numerous myths about the proper way to use the english language, while also providing entertainment. Each chapter concludes with activities for teachers that give examples, exercises, or simple questions that relate directly to teachers everyday dealings with ells and. The messed up origins of the jungle book disney explained. In merritt ruhlens 1994 book, the origin of language wiley, ny there is a chart page 103 of the best preservedreconstructed words from a dozen of the planets language families. The mystery, says christine kenneally in her book the first word, lies in the nature of the spoken word. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
In origins of the specious, word mavens patricia t. Weve all seen the jungle book, but how much do you know about the original story by rudyard kipling. The earliest period begins with the migration of certain germanic tribes from the continent to britain in the fifth century a. Language evolution as a research area contrasts with the antiquity of language origins, which can be traced back to the earliest forms of traditional reflection. A unique collection of original essays by 21 of the worlds leading linguists. Origins is both a superb piece of scholarship and a lively, witty and engagingly written book.
Suggesting that cosmology may have engendered civilization and not the other way around, scranton reveals how this. Origins of the specious, myths and misconceptions of the english language, by former new york times editors patricia t. Some tales say a creator endowed language from the beginning, others count language among later gifts, or curses. Nov 26, 1998 this book covers language myths that address different parts of linguistics, from grammar to accents to spelling. Language myths is a book everyone should be required to read or at least know the basic arguments of. Vyvyan evanss the language myth is something of a polemic. Language myths kindle edition by bauer, laurie, bauer, laurie, trudgill, peter. The tone is lively and entertaining throughout and there are cartoons from doonesbury andthe wizard of id to illustrate. This is true no matter how humanlike a chimps environment and upbringing are made. Please tell us more about dying words this book is a history of world languages which focuses on the small languages that make up about 96% of all spoken languages but are spoken by only about 4% of the worlds population. With a keen eye for the aspects of grammar, usage, and syntax that are most interesting, she points out littleknown facts and etymologies of how we speak, and why we speak the way we do. There are countless theories about the origins of human language, even if many linguists and scientists in the past have claimed the search for the seed that human language grew from to be a fruitless one.
In the book language myths, edited by laurie bauer and peter trudgill penguin, 1998, a team of leading linguists set out to challenge some of the conventional wisdom about language and the way it works. Alpha omega translations provides multilingual translation, interpretation, transcription. Following up and synthesizing his last two books, the science of the dogon, and sacred symbols of the dogon, laird scrantons latest book makes a good case that what we call today the myths and symbols of ancient peoples have not only cosmology as their basis but they originated from one parent cosmology. Yet the fact remains, humans have language and chimpanzees do not. Its hard to imagine a cultural phenomenon thats more important than the development of language.
Oconners and stewart kellermans origins of the specious. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Five theories on the origins of language thoughtco. This playfully witty, rigorously researched book sets the record straight about bogus word origins, politically correct fictions, phony francais, fake acronyms, and more. Aug 14, 2018 psychologist and author, michael corballis explores the many theories of language s origins, including his own, and details how language and communication have continued to evolve, from primates. Language myths and the history of english paperback. The new language was called enochian and comes from john dees assertion that the biblical patriarch enoch had been the last human to know the language.
Logophiles oconner and kellerman explore the myths that surround language and rules. Ive learned a lot, especially about words and grammar that i thought were set in stone but are either flat out wrong, or more flexible than id realized. Focusing on the organization of the book, language m yths is composed of. Stories of everyday human beings, although often of leaders of some type, are usually contained in legends, as opposed to myths. There have been many accounts of the origin of language in the worlds mythologies and other stories pertaining to the origin of language, the development of language and the reasons behind the diversity in languages today. Wattss aim in lmhe is to show how the writing of the. Manuscript illustration of the battle of kurukshetra. Myth, a story of the gods, a religious account of the beginning of the world, the creation, fundamental events, the exemplary deeds of the gods as a result of which the world, nature, and culture were created together with all parts thereof and given their order. This book covers language myths that address different parts of linguistics, from grammar to accents to spelling. The origins of language the suspicion does not appear improbable that the progenitors of man, either the males or females, or both sexes, before they had acquired the power of expressing their mutual love in articulate language, endeavoured to charm each other with musical notes and rhythm. Word myths is an entertaining, yet authoritative, look at these. This book documents the whole history of language origins and situate language evolution in this wide intellectual context.
Myths and misconceptions of the english language kindle edition by oconner, patricia t. The main characters in myths are usually gods, demigods or supernatural humans. The cosmological origins of myth and symbol by laird scranton. The origins of evil in hindu mythology by wendy doniger o. The science of language evolution appeared at the end of the last century but topically belongs to language origins the domain of investigation that is concerned with the beginnings and diversification of language. The science of language evolutionappeared at the end of the last century but topically belongs to language origins the domain of investigation concerned with the beginnings and diversification of language. Scranton explores the myths and language of an obscure chinese priestly tribe known as the nakhithe keepers of the worlds last surviving hieroglyphic language. For all its power to wound and seduce, speech is our most ephemeral creation. Pdf language myths download full pdf book download. Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives or stories that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Language myths and the history of english oxford scholarship. The only complaint i have is that it would be nice to see perhaps in the introduction some discussion of why people hold onto these myths.
The ticuna people of the upper amazon tell that all the peoples were once a. Oconner woe is i and stewart kellerman is as entertaining as it is enlightening. This is also richard watts objective, the recently retired professor of the. Pdf language myths and the history of english researchgate. As christine kenneally said in her book the first word. Since her first book, woe is i, through the current origins of the specious, pat never fails to write fascinating and fun examinations of the english language. The best books on the history and diversity of language. Some myths go further than just storytelling and are.
This is a unique collection of original essays by 21 of the worlds leading linguists. Any language lover should put this one near the top of. An introduction to the linguistic and literary background of j. Evanss book is, to say the least, controversial, and i. The history of english is conventionally, if perhaps too neatly, divided into three periods usually called old english or anglosaxon, middle english, and modern english. Myths and misconceptions of the english language by patricia t oconner, stewart kellerman online at alibris. Language myths and the history of english, dismantles many strange ideas vii that people have about lan guage, ideas that circulate throu gh multiple discursive fields and that many. While many of the essays are persuasive they aim to debunk a language myth they are also very informative and give facts both for and against the argument. I will attempt to demonstrate that edenic words provide the clearest origin for these terms, and should not merely be classified as one branch of the afroasiatic. Definitions of myth to some extent vary by the scholar.
Sep 07, 2015 september 7, 2015 alpha omega translations by sarahclaire jordan there are countless theories about the origins of human language, even if many linguists and scientists in the past have claimed the search for the seed that human language grew from to be a fruitless one. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading origins of the specious. And yet no human attribute offers less conclusive evidence regarding its origins. Aug 24, 2010 in origins of the specious, word mavens patricia t. Tracing the evolution of the mother tongue falls into a category of scholarship that seems to go by the name new synthesis. The cosmological origins of myth and symbol book by laird. The 9 biggest myths in language learning the mimic method.
Myths and misconceptions of the english language 9780812978100. I learned plenty after a day on the beach with this gem. Using concepts and interpretive sensibilities developed in the field of sociolinguistics over the past 40 years, richard j. John dee, 15271609, was an occultist, mathematician, astronomer and astrologer who lived in mort lake, west london for most of his life. Oconner and stewart kellerman reveal why some of grammars bestknown rules arentand never wererules at all. Language myths and the history of english aims to deconstruct the myths that are traditionally reproduced as factual accounts of the historical development of english. Aug 17, 2015 the fact is that we may never be able to explain definitively the origins of human vocal language. Myths and misconceptions of the english language is one of those rare books that hits the sweet spot, combining a lighthearted and easy style with rigorous research and useful notes. Although the tarot is the most widely used book of images in the world for the purpose of fortunetelling, many people are oblivious to its origins. These myths have similarities, recurring themes, and differences, having. Your first book choice is by nicholas evans, an australian academic and one of the leading figures in language documentation.
The cosmological origins of myth and symbol book by. Three myths about the origin of language alpha omega. One of the two major sanskrit epics of ancient india. Speculations about the origins of language and linguistic diversity date from far back in. At one point in history, according to the story, everyone who survived a flood brought on by gods wrath spoke the same language, and settled in a land known as shinar. The topics discussed focus on some of the most popular myths about language. Ancient origins articles related to language in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. A popular belief exists that the tarot originated in ancient egypt, but in fact it originated in italy in the middle ages. The book examines the patterns underlying these legends and comes to conclusions about such things as why we attach morbid tales to childrens rhymes, why newspapers keep promulgating false origins for terms like the windy city, or why so many words have false nautical origins. There have been many accounts of the origin of language in the worlds mythologies and other stories pertaining to the origin of language, the development of language and the reasons behind the diversity in languages today these myths have similarities, recurring themes, and differences, having been passed down through oral tradition.