ENTANGLED TONGUES: A Short History of the English Language or the Influence of French on English

ENTANGLED TONGUES:
A Short History of the English Language
or The Influence of French on English


The French point of view: “La langue anglaise n’existe pas. C’est du français mal prononcé.” (“The English language doesn’t exist. It is badly pronounced French.”) Georges Clemenceau, French Prime Minister, 1917-1920.

The English point of view: “So now they have made our English tongue… a hodgepodge of all other speeches.” Edmund Spenser, English poet, 1552-1599
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Entangled Tongues "takes a brief look at the building blocks of modern English. Where does the English that is currently spoken come from? Why does it function the way that it does? These are the questions that the author … addresses in this examination of the many different pieces that have come together to form modern English… As hundreds of years of English history are rushed through, the book has many fascinating points to make… An edifying account of the evolution of a complex language.” — Kirkus Reviews

“a brisk, brief overview of how we got modern English, with… a focus on the impact of the Norman Conquest on the development of the language. Kisch’s survey is inviting, unfussy, and practical, revealing not just the history but… what it all means for us today… Fascinating insights abound… Like most of her examples, her explanation of the Bard’s use of thou, thee, and you is inspired and inspiring… this is the kind of enticing introduction to a topic that makes readers want to dig deeper. A helpful bibliography, endnotes for future research, and illustrations ground the history.”— BookLife: Editor’s Pick

"Blending history and linguistics inquiries, Entangled Tongues is a fun, lighthearted interrogation of the English language's past." — Foreword Clarion Reviews

“… an enjoyable slice of linguistic history… appreciated by students of French or English literature/language and European history enthusiasts alike.”— Blueink Review

“a valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of the English language… Kisch presents complex linguistic changes in a clear, organized manner that makes the subject approachable without sacrificing depth.” — Midwest Book Review

“An excellent read. The writing… is…on point, as would be expected in a well-researched book,… but Kisch also makes it accessible to readers like me who are going in pretty green. I learned so much… Overall,… a great mix of linguistic detail with historical narrative…” — Readers’ Favorite: 5 stars