Ένα μικρό βιβλίο για τη γλώσσα

I was really excited when I won this book from Yale University Press; I love reading modern books about language development, research, and usage. This book did not disappoint, although I do have three main complaints about it.

First though, lets look at the things I enjoyed. I loved how well researched this book was and how David Crystal concerned himself with the study of language development, use, and adaptation from a general point of view. Most of the examples in the book were, necessarily, about English, but he also heavily relied on French, Chinese (in a general way) and he even used some Latin. This keeps readers from any language background intrigued and feeling included. I really liked David Crystal’s accessibility and inclusivity. Following these goals, the language is also very accessible and inclusive. People of all reading levels, strengths and abilities will not have any trouble reading and enjoying this book. I will have more to say on this aspect later on, but the one thing that made the language bearable was that it allowed David Crystal to keep his inclusive book about language accessible to everyone and anyone.

I became even more excited once I actually received the book and looked at his chapter headings. Chapters such as ‘Discovering Grammar,’ ‘Accents and Dialects,’ ‘Dying Languages,’ and ‘The Electronic Revolution’ had me jumping and clapping in my living room. I was dying to start it and see what treasures these chapter headings promised. Like the book as a whole, they did not disappoint, although he could have elaborated on the ideas and research in the chapters more fully. I would be first in line for a longer, more academic volume that would flesh out this fun summer read further.

Now for the things that I found disappointing. I was almost insulted by the level that David Crystal chose to write at. I felt that I was in a Grade 5 English classroom sitting in on a guest lecture by a University Professor but I was looking for the University Professor’s actual class! I believe that David Crystal could have maintained the accessibility, humour, and fun in the text and not talked to us like we were in Elementary School. This fine-line is beautifully illustrated, in my opinion, by the two Jared Diamond books I’ve read; Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel. Unlike David Crystal, Jared Diamond did not talk to his audience as though they were young children, but still managed to keep his books flowing along, fun to read, and accessible. For me, this was A Little Book of Language’s greatest flaw.

I believe that his younger reading level detracted from the obviously meticulous research that went into his book. He glossed over the really interesting material but chose to define words such as linguist, and politically correct. I would have preferred more time spent on the meat and potatoes of his research, and less time spent defining and helping his reader to pronounce key words. A glossary at the end of his book would have served the same purpose, maintained the books accessibility, and not insulted his audience.

Despite the book’s few annoying flaws, it was a really fun and enjoyable read. I would recommend it for the layman of any age interested in languages, their development, and why and how they change. It made me hungry for more linguistic books and David Crystal graciously lays out other directions where you can take your reading in Chapter 39. A Little Book of Language is a great pool- or beach-side read for the summer.