- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Viking (27 May 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0670918873
- ISBN-13: 978-0670918874
- Product Dimensions: 22.1 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 853,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Globish" is the name given (by a Frenchman) to a form of simplified English spoken by non-native speakers as a pidgin. This book is not about Globish and only makes two passing references to Globish. If the trades descriptions act extended to book titles there would be grounds for litigation. This is yet another general history of English repeating the same generalizations, truisms and idiotic simplifications as scores of previous books. For example, the author waxes lyrical about how the Celtic elements gave a poetic tinge to the no-nonsense Anglo-Saxons. He cites as examples a series of authors of ambiguous Irishness such as Jonathan Swift, who defined himself as English and spent his formative years in England.
The lack of rigour in popular linguistics is on the increase (I blame Melvyn Bragg!). It has now spread to the titles of such books.
The lack of rigour in popular linguistics is on the increase (I blame Melvyn Bragg!). It has now spread to the titles of such books.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Interesting stories, but also much nonsense
23 Dec 2010
Format:Paperback
McCrum's Globish is different from both Nerrière's Globish and Gogate's Globish. McCrum does not explain the difference between Globish and English. Usually, when McCrum writes the word 'Globish', the word 'English' is apparently an equivalent alternative.
McCrum's history of English is interesting. However, McCrum sometimes writes nonsense. For example, McCrum writes, "Language, it cannot be stressed too strongly, is intrinsically neutral, but it is no contradiction to claim that English - by virtue of its origins and history - is unique."
Change 'English' to 'French' or to 'Arabic' or to 'Cantonese'. Without knowledge of the criteria that are used to evaluate uniqueness, the languages are interchangeable. For example, "Language, it cannot be stressed too strongly, is intrinsically neutral, but it is no contradiction to claim that Arabic - by virtue of its origins and history - is unique."
McCrum does not explain what he means by the term 'neutral' in the context of language. Near the end of the book, McCrum apparently contradicts the statement that language is neutral. McCrum writes, "Those who want to characterize Globish as a kind of benign virus that has worked its way into every corner of daily life must also acknowledge its imperial and colonial past." If language is neutral, why must I "acknowledge its imperial and colonial past"?
Sometimes, I do not understand what McCrum wants to say. In the examples that follow, I understand each word, but I do not understand the sentences:
* "At the interface of technology and global capitalism, the world's English responds to specific, local imperatives, as Jean-Paul Nerrière understood when he coined 'Globish' in 1995."
* "So viral is its [Globish's] ceaseless expression round the world that to separate cause and effect is virtually impossible. With a supranational momentum, above and beyond American and British influences, Globish sustains itself as both chicken and egg."
Unfortunately, too much of the text in Globish is similar to the example sentences. The words flow, but the meaning is not clear.
McCrum's history of English is interesting. However, McCrum sometimes writes nonsense. For example, McCrum writes, "Language, it cannot be stressed too strongly, is intrinsically neutral, but it is no contradiction to claim that English - by virtue of its origins and history - is unique."
Change 'English' to 'French' or to 'Arabic' or to 'Cantonese'. Without knowledge of the criteria that are used to evaluate uniqueness, the languages are interchangeable. For example, "Language, it cannot be stressed too strongly, is intrinsically neutral, but it is no contradiction to claim that Arabic - by virtue of its origins and history - is unique."
McCrum does not explain what he means by the term 'neutral' in the context of language. Near the end of the book, McCrum apparently contradicts the statement that language is neutral. McCrum writes, "Those who want to characterize Globish as a kind of benign virus that has worked its way into every corner of daily life must also acknowledge its imperial and colonial past." If language is neutral, why must I "acknowledge its imperial and colonial past"?
Sometimes, I do not understand what McCrum wants to say. In the examples that follow, I understand each word, but I do not understand the sentences:
* "At the interface of technology and global capitalism, the world's English responds to specific, local imperatives, as Jean-Paul Nerrière understood when he coined 'Globish' in 1995."
* "So viral is its [Globish's] ceaseless expression round the world that to separate cause and effect is virtually impossible. With a supranational momentum, above and beyond American and British influences, Globish sustains itself as both chicken and egg."
Unfortunately, too much of the text in Globish is similar to the example sentences. The words flow, but the meaning is not clear.
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