Certain 'je Ne Sais Quoi'
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Product Description
Product Description
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? A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" is an accessible and entertaining treasury of information that 'connoisseurs' (French) of the English language will love!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
History of English,
By
This review is from: A Certain Je ne Sais Quoi: Words We Pinched from Other Languages (Hardcover)
I studied the history of the English language at University and found this book very interesting. It explained clearly how and why foreign words became part of our language.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a neat little book!,
By
This review is from: A Certain Je ne Sais Quoi: Words We Pinched from Other Languages (Hardcover)
This book is really cool!Ever wondered where we get words from? This book contains all the words you could think of and their meanings - neat! Whether words we use today come from Latin, French, Chinese, German, Spanish, Russian or Greek origins, this book has all the information on the words, how long they've been around and what language they originated from. This cute book would be ideal as a Christmas/birthday gift for a family member/friend, as it is informative, interesting, and is nice to refer to if you ever feel the need. Highly reccommmended.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"A Certain Je ne sais quoi",
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This review is from: A Certain Je ne Sais Quoi: Words We Pinched from Other Languages (Hardcover)
Product arrived before the stated time in excellent condition and the product was very good and exactly what I wanted.
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