Help needed from those of you interested in languages and words please.........

[BettySpaghetti]

I'm trying to find a book for a Christmas present for my MIL.

I'll head off to Waterstones tomorrow and ask there but I'm hoping someone here may have a recommendation or suggestion.

MIL is fluent in 5 European languages and is interested in language in general. What I would like for her is a book that looks at how words evolve across languages, looks at the similarities of words in different languages IYSWIM.

All I can find from a quick search on Amazon are books looking at the origins of English words but this isn't "international" enough -she is interested in how languages overlap.

Not sure if I've explained myself well enough??

Thanks

Lol Tinker I almost put Pinker's Language Instinct there but thought it might be a bit too theoretical!

The last link (David Crystal one) is probably pitched at the right level in that its interesting, covers fascinating areas of language and is not overly academic. I can imagine her picking that up and enjoying.

Some of the others might be a bit "heavy" for someone who is not studying language formally??

There are a few from your links though that I will have a look for in the bookshop and a browse through will tell me more -its always difficult getting an idea from Amazon listings and reviews isn't it?

He does really but still interesting? (Says she who has a book of his on her shelf which she has only really skim-read ) But I did do an OU course on language with a bit of linguistics in. Honest Miss.

He is really interesting but I think if Betty were to go for something that was more to do with the development of language then the resilience of language one I linked to before would be better as it is easier to follow. Pinker is fab but a little academic if not actively studying.

Says the girl who is having an illicit affair with Vygotsky

this then looks far more gentle and good fun to read.

And now I seem to have gone over my essay word limit so am signing off and going to bed.

Good luck with the book buying Betty

Thanks so much for your help Indith -hope you haven't been too distracted from your essay.

BTW The Unfolding of Language might be the one! Going to read the reviews etc now

That Umberto Eco One (THe Search for the Perfect Language) is fascinating but iirc is about attempts to define exactly what language is, philosphically-speaking, and then make the perfect one that would express all ideas. It is really good.
Also good is "Spoken Here" by Mark someone, about dying languages - not exactly what you want but interesting to anyone keen on linguistics and society.
I have a couple of years of linguistics under my belt, and a degree in Eng Lang, and I love this book, although it is flawed in places (his use of the IPA is a bit slapdash imo)
\Compendium of the World's Languages.
Entry for each language, some phonological and grammatical detail, and a bit of Genesis reproduced in the relevant script with notes as necessary. Not a 'readable' book but I found it gripping (I am a bit like that though).

A good distraction I assure you!

I have snogged David Crystal's son in my wild and mis-spent youth.

I want all of these books...

This thread is fab. I am ordering The Unfolding of Language for my sister for Christmas. I am inspired.

Maybe some of you linguists wants to contribute some thoughts about the finnish language on a fashion thread by COD? It just sort of developed into something different than clothing...

God, I don't know any Finnish at all. I was given a page of Estonian the other day by my boss to "see if I could work out what it was about." I had no clue. Think Estonian is v similar to Finnish?

Finnish!

15 cases!

No thanks

Russian is bad enough.

Morning!