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In countdown form, this book looks at the 20 most spoken languages in the world. After reviewing certain details for each, it then launches into something interesting about the language, be it history, different grammar for women (Japanese), and the huge influence it has had on other languages (Arabic). I found this completely fascinating!

I really enjoyed this book, it‘s almost like traveling around the world. I really enjoyed how the author not only talked about particular languages but also touched on histories of certain areas, their cultures and so on. He did a great job keeping each chapter different and unique. Each chapter made me want to learn a different language and travel to that country.

Favorite book read in August.

#12booksof2020

Being large and central, the Spanish Subjunctive Jungle can‘t be treated as a no-go area, but treading carefully and keeping to the marked paths is advisable.

If you‘re interested in learning a non-Indo-European language that won‘t have you tearing ALL your hair out, Turkish is an excellent choice.

Latest #LibraryHaul

Interesting. I want to read his previous book, Lingo, now.

I enjoyed Lingo (Dorren‘s tour through 60 European languages) and was looking forward to Babel, a deep-dive into the 20 most-spoken languages of the world. What‘s nice about Dorren‘s writing is he constructs each chapter to serve the point he wants to make: one might be a Q&A, another a history of the region, another a recounting of his attempt to learn a serviceable amount of language. This is a nuts-and-bolts of language book but very readable.