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? This book is an accessible and entertaining treasury of information that "connoisseurs" (French) of the English language will love!
This book title, A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi (Words We Pinched From Other Languages), ISBN: 9781782434320, by Chloe Rhodes, published by Michael O'Mara (April 1, 2017) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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