The Mother Tongue

English and How It Got That Way

Bill Bryson examines the history, development, and global spread of the English language. He traces its origins and influences, explains how its vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and grammar evolved, and considers why English became an international language. The book combines linguistic history with observations on the language's irregularities and regional variations.

by Bill Bryson

William Morrow · First published 1990 · 270 pages