The last lingua franca
Subtitle: English until the return of Babel
By: Nicholas Ostler
Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
Publisher: Walker & Co.
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 330
ISBN-13: 9780802717719
Subjects: Social aspects; Lingua francas; English language; Variation
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Part 1 : Lingua-franca present.; title: The edges of English; title: How various in the future?; title: Part 2 : Lingua-francas past.; title: The pragmatism of empire; title: When the writ of Persian ran; title: Traders' languages and the language for trade; title: God's own language; title: Part 3 : A range of outcomes.; title: Regenerations; title: Ruin and relegation; title: Resignation; title: Part 4 : Who's in charge here?; title: Big beasts; title: The jungle is neutral; title: Under an English sun, the shadows lengthen