Words on the Move

Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally)

By: John McWhorter

Narrated by: John McWhorter

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A best-selling linguist takes us on a lively tour of how the English language is evolving before our eyes - and why we should embrace this transformation and not fight it.

Language is always changing - but we tend not to like it. We understand that new words must be created for new things, but the way English is spoken today rubs many of us the wrong way. Whether it's the use of literally to mean "figuratively" rather than "by the letter" or the way young people use LOL and like, or business jargon like what's the ask? - it often seems as if the language is deteriorating before our eyes.

But the truth is different and a lot less scary, as John McWhorter shows in this delightful and eye-opening exploration of how English has always been in motion and continues to evolve today. Drawing examples from everyday life and employing a generous helping of humor, he shows that these shifts are a natural process common to all languages and that we should embrace and appreciate these changes, not condemn them.

Words on the Move opens our eyes to the surprising backstories to the words and expressions we use every day. Did you know that silly once meant "blessed"? Or that ought was the original past tense of owe? Or that the suffix -ly in adverbs is actually a remnant of the word like? And have you ever wondered why some people from New Orleans sound as if they come from Brooklyn?

McWhorter encourages us to marvel at the dynamism and resilience of the English language, and his book offers a lively journey through which we discover that words are ever on the move, and our lives are all the richer for it.

©2016 John H. McWhorter (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

I'm Literally Giving In on Literally

This is how powerful John McWhorter's book is: he instantly convinced me to abandon my longtime vociferous distaste for using literally to mean the opposite of literally. I won't give his argument away, as it is the centerpiece of the first of his five chapters on how and why English changes over time. Read it (listen to it) for yourself, you will not be disappointed.

McWhorter makes a brief and much less spirited case for tolerating irregardless which fails to alter my opinion that that is just a stupid mistake that would be better off relegated to the realm of the obsolete, though sadly it lives on. But in general, he makes a strong case against prescriptive dictates (i.e. the usage police).

Other books dwell on historical events that have caused discreet shifts in English -- Viking and Norman invasions, church Latin, et.al. McWhorter deals with that in other books. Here, he focuses on natural evolutionary trends in language -- how meanings change when they take on subjective properties, how they narrow or broaden through usage, how words morph into grammar, etc. The whole idea being that change is ongoing and inevitable.

Overall, except for an overlong and not altogether interesting chapter on how vowel sounds evolve, this book is just wonderful (in both the contemporary and Melville-era senses of that word). That McWhorter narrates it himself just makes it that much more interesting and powerful, since he knows exactly what he is saying and how he wants to say it.

Words change their meanings over time

What made the experience of listening to Words on the Move the most enjoyable?

Having the author narrate his own work and using many examples to explain his reasoning.

What did you like best about this story?

Etymology.

Have you listened to any of John McWhorter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. This is my first.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Don't know. It doesn't seem to fit the film format.

Any additional comments?

The study of words and their origins are interesting enough, but this book shows how words change over time.

An interesting way of seeing the language

This book opens ones eyes to the way in which languages in general, and English specifically, change over time. One need only pick up a copy of Shakespeare's plays or look at the King James Bible to see how much change there has been in just the last 400 years. I'm not sure I'm sold on his main point, but it is an interesting notion. #EyeOpening #AlternativePerspective #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Review By a Fan

I follow Prof. McWhorter--listen to his books, watch his Ted Talks; if he were to give a lecture in my town, I'd buy a ticket. He has several themes he returns to over and over again: that languages evolve, that English is not spoken correctly vs. incorrectly, but in dialects, the effect of texting on the language and so on. He hits them again in Words on the Move.

Some people might eventually find this slightly repetitive, but not me. I like his jokes, his anecdotes and--occasionally--his total goofy nerdiness. (His comprehensive knowledge of vintage sit coms, for example.) So I'm giving this five stars because I enjoy all of the above. If you don't, you'll still like the book, but you may not feel motivated to award five stars. I totally get that. You do you, I do me...

Recommend.

Wow!

I love words, but am certainly not a linguist. Didn't even know I had a learning disability until I was 25. This book made me take pause though. Upon the clarification, towards the end, that there is still time and place for the use of unconventional words/grammar I was absolutely on board with stopping my grammar policing.

Informative and funny

McWhorter writes a very informative, and useful book as well as being funny and sometimes goofy. This book is great in audio as you hear McWhorter’s subtle pronunciations and word play really well. Highly recommend for the word snob!

interesting story and great narration

Normally I think it is unwise for authors to read their own books. They don't have the skills to put energy and color into the narration. However this author is the exception to the rule. Ths was a great narration which could never have been done better by anybody else. He made the case that all languages is in transition and supported that with a broad view of language over the centuries and detailed knowledge of that transition in English.

Fascinating look at our language

Languages change while they're are alive and English is no exception. I cringe at some changes and know I can't stop its progress even when I try. This book pointed how the language is changing, and not just words and grammatical structure; John McWhorter discusses how sounds are changing right in front of us.

I like this book because it not only explains things, it has heart and humor. I don't know if there are charts in the print book, but I would like a couple for the vowel changes. I love linguistics, but I think this book is accessible even if the subject is new to you.

Like literally so betch

You will like literally love this book. OMG It is like so betch. LOL. icecream...

Fascinating

This is the best story about words and language that I have encountered. It’s both modern and historical review of words is fascinating.