The idea that there once existed a language which perfectly and unambiguously expressed the essence of all possible things and concepts has occupied the minds o

Lucidly and wittily written, this book is a tour de force of scholarly detection and cultural interpretation, providing a series of original perspectives on two

A masterpiece of linguistics scholarship, at once erudite and entertaining, confronts the thorny question of how—and whether—culture shapes language and lan

Here is the captivating story of humankind’s enduring quest to build a better language—and overcome the curse of Babel. Just about everyone has heard of Esp

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!! Named a Best Book of 2019 by TIME, Amazon, and The Washington Post A Wired Must-Read Book of Summer “Gretchen McCulloch