Items related to Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Synopsis
An unusual and authoritative ‘natural history of languages’ that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another in the past, and what it is about – say – Greek, Sanskrit, Mandarin Chinese and English that has led to their supremacy at different times.
If the history of languages has taught us anything, Nicholas Ostler argues, it is that no language – however populous its speakers, confident its culture and advanced its technology – has remained the linga franca indefinitely. As the technological and cultural dominance of America has consolidated the territorial achievements of the British Empire, the English language (aided by the predominantly Anglophone Internet) has apparently never had it so good. And yet the long-term dominance of English will inevitably, in due course, give way…
Will the language split into disparate daughter languages which will undermine the mother tongue? Will English be displaced in world terms by a language such as Mandarin Chinese, which has been a great regional player since well before English emerged as an offshoot of Anglo-Saxon, French and Norse?
Taking in a broad sweep of history, Ostler will examine the reasons for the dominance of a particular language at a particular time and look at the cultural importance of linguistic variety.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Nicholas Ostler is a scholar and scientist of languages, who has a working knowledge of 26 languages and who set up five years ago the Foundation for Endangered Languages, an international organisation, to provide funding and support to document and revitilise languages in peril. With his own company Linguacubun Ltd., he regularly advises governments and corporations on policy in the field of computers and natural language processing.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Search results for Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # rev3606600492
Buy Used
£ 1.49
£ 8.67 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Aged book. Tanned pages and age spots, however, this will not interfere with reading. Seller Inventory # CHL8759308
Buy Used
£ 3.38
£ 7 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR003413023
Buy Used
£ 4.90
£ 5.60 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 3 available
Stock Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR008100467
Buy Used
£ 4.90
£ 5.60 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 2 available
Seller Image
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World
Published by
HarperCollins, London., 2005
ISBN 10: 0007118708
ISBN 13: 9780007118700
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Carmarthenshire Rare Books, Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. original cloth hardcover, 615 pages, pages browned otherwise very good in very good unclipped dustwrapper. We are a real bookshop with real books situated in and shipping from the United Kingdom. Shelf B270. Seller Inventory # 148106
Buy Used
£ 10
£ 17.50 shipping
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World
Published by
London: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2005
ISBN 10: 0007118708
ISBN 13: 9780007118700
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Arnold M. Herr, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Thick octavo. Condition: minor toning to pages; else fine in fine DJ. Pages: xxi, 615. Seller Inventory # 10843
Stock Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Published by
HarperCollins, London, 2005
ISBN 10: 0007118708
ISBN 13: 9780007118700
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Caffrey Books, Oundle, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Seller Inventory # 022137
Seller Image
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World
Published by
HarperCollins, 2005
ISBN 10: 0007118708
ISBN 13: 9780007118700
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: J C ( Antiquarian) Books, Watton, NORFO, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Ostler, Nicholas,2005, ppxxi, pp216 Original brown cloth boards with original dust Jacket contains black &white photographic and drawn illustrations. Condition: pages have sunning on edges, occasional markings in margins and marking on edges of the pages. The Cover is vibrant and the gilt printed spine is fully intact. The cover has little shelf wear. The dust jacket contains occasional markings but is still vibrant, on the inside is a small damp stain across the back top ,Otherwise this is a tight, clean copy of an interesting book. Seller Inventory # 2349
Stock Image
Empires of the Word : A Language History of the World (Signed First Edition)
Published by
HarperCollins, London, 2005
ISBN 10: 0007118708
ISBN 13: 9780007118700
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Caffrey Books, Oundle, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Very Good/Very Good. Unread condition. Seller Inventory # 006745
Seller Image
Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World
Seller: Antiquariat Biebusch, Lilienthal, Germany
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Pappe. Condition: Sehr gut. 615 S., 25cm Zustand: Pappeinband, sehr guter Zustand mit Schutzumschlag --- Inhalt: englischer Text. The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared languarge is what binds any community together, and makes possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it. Mit Karten ROS11-7 ISBN: 9780007118700 Sprache: Englisch Gewicht in Gramm: 1000. Seller Inventory # 73252