Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue

The Untold History of English

By: John McWhorter

Narrated by: John McWhorter

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.

Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century A.D., John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor.

Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research, as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English - and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for. (And no, it's not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition.)

©2008 John McWhorter (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"McWhorter's iconoclastic impulses and refreshing enthusiasm makes this worth a look for anyone with a love for the language." (Publishers Weekly)

"McWhorter’s energetic, brash delivery of his own spirited and iconoclastic text will appeal to everyone who appreciates the range and caliber of today’s audio production. In some ways, audio is superior to printed text in portraying tone, attitude, values, and in this case, a discussion whose theme is the sound and grammar of words." (AudioFile magazine)

great read

What made the experience of listening to Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue the most enjoyable?

I am am accountant, I don't care about English, but saw John on tv and was going to see his lecture at a conference, so downloaded this book. What am awesome book, really enjoyed it, and his lecture. I liked the book so much i just logged in to download another one of his books.

Interesting but lack of structure makes it hard to follow

I appreciate the effort, but the structure could have been improved. On net, I understand what McWhorter was trying to do: demonstrate that English has been influenced by many cultures by invaders and by domestic elites seeking out ways to expand their vocabulary. His book appears to be well researched and parts were enjoyable, but if he had been more explicit in building his case for all the supporting statements this book would have been easier to follow.

For example, half the book seemed like isolated curiosities dwelling far too long on “meaningless ‘do’” and it was very easy to forget what point he was trying to make. He spent far too long on other points (e.g. Celtic influence), failing to indicate why he was spending so long on that particular case.

Enjoyable, but would have been better with more structure.

You don't have to be a geek to find this interesti

but it helps.. I cover a lot of books on all different topics, and found this on gave me at fundamental education not just on the origins of English, but most European languages.

Just so-so

Interesting, but not completely engaging or compelling. I listened to the book, and for me I believe that enhanced the experience as I could hear the different pronunciations of words or phrases, rather than trying to guess how something my be pronounced in a foreign language by just looking at it. I learned a little, and it might help me a bit at trivia night. If you happen upon this book and are interested in languages, then spend time with it. If it's left on the airplane, sure, read it. Don't run out and spend your birthday money on it, though.

A fun way to learn

I can only endorse the positive comments below - this is a great read. It deals with a complex topic in a way that anyone can understand, and it is interesting from start to finish. I don't know how many languages McWhorter speaks fluently but it sounds as though he knows quite a few. He reels off words and phrases in foreign languages with apparent ease. He is probably the only narrator who could do justice to this book. His informal approach and conversational tone are perfect for engaging the listener and they contribute towards rendering this specialist topic accessible to all.

A great intro to the history English

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this, but was del8ghted with scope and depth in an easy to follow narrative.

An interesting story told I'm a fun way

John McWhorter is entertaining to listen to as he is insightful. I also recommend his lecture series in the Great Lectures. He makes some interesting and convincing arguments about some unique aspects of English. I recommend this book!

Very interesting

What did you love best about Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue?

I usually avoid books read by the author. Prof McWhorter performs as if he's speaking to you directly. Very engaging and really interesting information.

Author's passion really shines

If you have even a passing interest in linguistics and the evolution of language, I would definitely recommend this. You can tell the author is really passionate about the subject and presents an interesting and well supported theory about the influences on the English language that don't seem to be widely held or taught, but his arguments seem sound from my outside-observer-with-a-passing-interest perspective. I found this book interesting and accessible, and I didn't need any prior knowledge to understand what he talking about. I think this book will have something for people knowledgeable on the subject as well as for people exploring a new topic.

A wonderful portrait of the English Language

A firework of quirky facts about the English language and a captivating saga how it became what it is today. What a treat it was to listen to the author narrate his own book where his numerous examples expressed amazingly in at least two dozen languages masterfully spread his passion to the listener. If you ever wondered where English's 'meaningless DO' and 'progressive ING' stem from or what impact Phoenician perhaps might have or could have had on Proto-Germanic languages, look no further. A wonderful portrait of the English language as a tower on Germanic foundations, remodeled by indigenous Celts, trimmed by settling Norsemen and Danes and expanded by conquering Normans. And the building project continues to this day!