Four words for friend : why using more than one language matters now more than ever / Marek Kohn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kohn, Marek, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bilingualism.

Sociolinguistics.

Physical Description:

vii, 250 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, 2019.

Summary:

In a world that has English as its global language and rapidly advancing translation technology, it's easy to assume that the need to use more than one language will diminish-but Marek Kohn argues that plural language use is more important than ever. In a divided world, it helps us to understand ourselves and others better, to live together better, and to make the most of our various cultures. Kohn, whom the Guardian has called "one of the best science writers we have," brings together perspectives from psychology, evolutionary thought, politics, literature, and everyday experience. He explores how people acquire languages; how they lose them; how they can regain them; how different languages may affect people's perceptions, their senses of self, and their relationships with each other; and how to resolve the fundamental contradiction of languages, that they exist as much to prevent communication as to make it happen.

Contents:

1 Other Words Are Possible p. 1

2 Babel: The Conspiracy Theory p. 20

3 The Rising Din p. 42

4 It Must Still Be In There Somewhere p. 63

5 Two Languages In One Head p. 81

6 Speakers In Search Of An Endpoint p. 102

7 Being Somebody Else p. 133

8 One Nation, One Language p. 151

9 Possible Words p. 188.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0300231083

9780300231083

OCLC:

1046549717