Near fine copy in the original colour-printed cloth boards. Light stains to prelims. Remains very well-preserved overall. Physical description; 176 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. Notes; Includes bibliographical references (p. 176). Subjects; English language Foreign elements. English language Foreign elements History. 1 Kg.

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Bibliographic Details

Title: A certain je ne sais quoi : words we pinched from other languages / Chloe Rhodes
Publisher: London : Michael O'Mara
Publication Date: 2009
Language: English
ISBN 10: 1843173646
ISBN 13: 9781843173649
Binding: Hardcover
Edition: First Edition.
Weight: 1 kilogram

About this title

Synopsis

English as we know it today is enriched with many borrowings and influences from other languages. Aficionado, chutzpah, pro bono, hoi polloi, ketchup, nous, zeitgeist—we use these foreign words every day without thinking of their origins, but what do they actually mean? And just how and why did we English speakers absorb such exotic imports? Each phrase has a fascinating history; colonialism, foreign trade, invasion, and immigration all have their role to play in the evolution of our language. Did you know, for example, that "lingua franca" is Italian for "Frankish language"—a name given to a mixed common language used by diplomats of different nationalities in medieval times? Or that the seemingly modern "bandana" comes from the Sanskrit for the ancient Indian technique of tie-dying fabric? This book is an accessible and entertaining treasury of information that "connoisseurs" (French) of the English language will love!

About the Author

Chloe Rhodes is a freelance writer and journalist whose work has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the Times, and the Independent on Sunday. Her previous books include Black Cats and Evil Eyes: A Book of Old-Fashioned Superstitions.

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