About the Author

A scholar with a working knowledge of twenty-six languages, Nicholas Ostler has degrees from Oxford University in Greek, Latin, philosophy, and economics, and a Ph.D. in linguistics from MIT, where he studied under Noam Chomsky. He lives in Bath, England.

Reviews

"[A] wide-ranging history of the world's languages... [Ostler] brilliantly raises questions and supplies answers or theories." -- Washington Post"Enlightening . . . Always challenging, always instructive--at times, even startling or revolutionary." -- Kirkus Reviews"Delicious! Ostler's book shows how certain lucky languages joined humankind in its spread across the world." -- John McWhorter"What an extraordinary odyssey the author of this superb work embarked upon." -- Literary Review"Covers more rambunctious territory than any other single volume I'm aware of...A wonderful ear for the project's poetry." -- John Leonard, Harper's Magazine"Revolutionary... Executed with a giddying depth of scholarship, yet the detail is never too thick to swamp the general reader." -- Boston magazine"True scholarship. A marvelous book, learned and instructive." -- National Review"[A] monumental new book... Ostler furnishes many fresh insights, useful historical anecdotes and charming linguistic oddities." -- Chicago Tribune"A work of immense erudition." -- Christian Science Monitor"A story of dramatic reversals and puzzling paradoxes. A rich... text with many piercing observations and startling comparisons." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

Ostler presents a masterly comparative analysis of empires' linguistic effects throughout history. An Oxford graduate and chair of the Foundation for Endangered Languages, Ostler writes in a concise yet engaging manner, displaying an impressive grasp of the history of languages, from Aramaic and Sanskrit to Chinese and Spanish. Language, he asserts, is a natural definer of communities and societies and therefore an integral part of history. Ostler analyzes the different ways in which certain languages have prevailed over others, chronologically and in relation to broader imperial pursuits. For example, Egyptian fell by the wayside during the successive rule of the Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic empires; in contrast, Chinese has remained strong despite the incursion of the Mongols, Manchus, and challenges from Western powers in the 19th century. Ostler's study ultimately shows that all languages are susceptible to downfall; even the current, unprecedented prevalence of English, aided by global communication and trade, is neither impervious nor eternal. This book is accessible to anyone with an interest in language, and its original ideas, generous notes, and extensive bibliography make it well suited to academic libraries as well.-Rebecca Bollen Manalac, Lane Cove Lib., Sydney, Australia Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"[A] wide-ranging history of the world's languages... [Ostler] brilliantly raises questions and supplies answers or theories." -- Washington Post"Enlightening . . . Always challenging, always instructive--at times, even startling or revolutionary." -- Kirkus Reviews"Delicious! Ostler's book shows how certain lucky languages joined humankind in its spread across the world." -- John McWhorter"What an extraordinary odyssey the author of this superb work embarked upon." -- Literary Review"Covers more rambunctious territory than any other single volume I'm aware of...A wonderful ear for the project's poetry." -- John Leonard, Harper's Magazine"Revolutionary... Executed with a giddying depth of scholarship, yet the detail is never too thick to swamp the general reader." -- Boston magazine"True scholarship. A marvelous book, learned and instructive." -- National Review"[A] monumental new book... Ostler furnishes many fresh insights, useful historical anecdotes and charming linguistic oddities." -- Chicago Tribune"A work of immense erudition." -- Christian Science Monitor"A story of dramatic reversals and puzzling paradoxes. A rich... text with many piercing observations and startling comparisons." -- Los Angeles Times Book Review