The unfolding of language: Looks like a very interesting book

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=blogbridge-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0805079076&fc1=000000&lc1=0000ff&bc1=000000&lt1=_top&nou=1&IS2=1&f=ifr&bg1=ffffff&f=ifr I came across this review in "World Wide Words", an email newsletter (remember those?) about … well, words. Here's an excerpt from the review:

"He takes readers through introductory topics such as syntax, case endings, grammatical gender, and the curiosities of Semitic nouns, in which a set of three consonants creates a template within which detailed meaning is carried by the interspersed vowels (so shalom, salaam, Solomon, Islam, and Muslim are variants on the root s-l-m). He quotes examples in English of what seem to be abrupt changes in sense--resent three hundred years ago mean to appreciate or feel grateful for, practically the opposite of its modern sense." (from World Wide Words, "The Unfolding of Language")

Sorry, but I love stuff like that. Technorati Tags: book