"A Little Book of Language" by David Crystal
Little Histories
UNSW Press, Yаlе University Press | 2010 | ISBN: 1742231985 0300155336 9781742231976 9780300155334 | 237 pages | PDF | 4 MB
This book ranges widely, revealing language’s myriad intricacies and quirks. In animated fashion, Crystal sheds light on the development of unique linguistic styles, the origins of obscure accents, and the search for the first written word. He discusses the plight of endangered languages, as well as successful cases of linguistic revitalization. Much more than a history, Crystal’s work looks forward to the future of language, exploring the effect of technology on our day-to-day reading, writing, and speech.