History in English Words

Rating:
Summary: Their sweat on your lips
Review: For anyone who wants to chart the change in human thought through the evolution of the currency of that thought - then this book is both tutor and inspiration.

Escape from the dull mill of Chomsky into the dazzling bakery of Barfield.

Whether you wish to understand old literature - revive and practice an ancient belief system or mystery - or even would you plumb the thinking of your ancestors or perhaps yourself in a previous lifetime then let this recent and blessed "Dead Guy" be at your elbow.



Work of Each...
...for the weal, heal or the corn of some future greatening. We plough the past: the children of the glad and handed are the future in the nick of time.

So infrequently are the sons of the Large-handed and outwardly bent adventurers relaxed unless told of islands.
This I cannot tell you, though great-handed hrlarlf and yeeowl-hearted, I have intimate relations with maidens of unchaste inspiring.

As they descend and thus grow younger, I will pass them down to my childer of incontinent pomeing.

As for that old pin-crunching wheel of all wondering, the object is drawn by that house, before all art.

Like I said - in that dirty pearl, like any mucky tongue, lies more pleasure than any suburb brim with blondes. and all who tale in her.

...are blesséd.


All verse quoted in my reviews ©Steve Kane 2004

Search usenet for a line of mine to find the rest.


read "wisdom of Crowds" (see my review) to understand how a relatively unmanaged and widespread language like english can become a store of knowledge beyond any encyclopedia. You'll have to think a little about it I'm sorry. (not)

Rating:
Summary: Words as Artifact
Review: History in English Words is a fascinating archeological exploration of societies precursor to those of today that speak the English language. Where nothing or little exists in the archaeological ruins, words reveal lifestyle, thought and patterns of migration. In addition, to following the movement of the precursor civilizations across Asia and Europe. The book is lively and thought provoking. The first half gets a little thin as he approaches the modern age, but then he launches into a new premise, that of the conflict of religious and scientific thought in the second half and the book is reinvigorated.