Spoken Here

Mark Abley

$39.99

Paperback

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English

Arrow
01 March 2005

linguistics; Historical & comparative linguistics; Travel writing; Places & peoples: pictorial works

Shortlisted for the Pearson Writers' Trust Non-Fiction Prize in 2004. One of the most critically-acclaimed non-fiction titles of 2004, both fascinating and moving, this is award-winning journalist Mark Abley's story of his travels to visit the world's dying and threatened languages and the people who speak them.

Half the world's languages are threatened with extinction over the next century, as English and the rest of the world's top twenty languages drive all before them. What ways of looking at the world will die along with them, what cultural riches, what experiences, histories and memories? And how does it feel to be one of the last remaining speakers of a language that is on its way to extinction? What chance is there of saving any of these languages? Is it feasible in the long term or even worthwhile?

Mark Abley's journeys among the speakers of languages at the brink takes him to aboriginal Australia (where he meets the last surviving fluent male speaker of Mati Ke, who cannot speak to the only other fluent speaker, as she is his sister and in their culture it is forbidden to speak to siblings once one has reached puberty) and to American Indian reservations, as well as to places where the languages are fighting back - Wales, the Faeroe islands, the Isle of Man - whilst also charting the triumphant return of Hebrew.

By: Mark Abley
Imprint: Arrow
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 21mm
Weight: 235g
ISBN: 9780099460220
ISBN 10: 009946022X
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 01 March 2005
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for Spoken Here

Riveting... learned, thought-provoking, bouncing with ideas, yet funny and wry... Inspiring * Independent * A fascinating and addictive book. It is more than that: it is a lucid, often eloquent journey through the crumbling linguistic foundations of humanity * Daily Telegraph * Unusually penetrating and astute * Spectator * An essential read * Guardian * Powerful and important... Compelling' * Sunday Times *

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Spoken Here

Mark Abley

$39.99

Paperback

Reviews for Spoken Here

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