Monday, April 11, 2016

Books read in April 2016

1. Made In America: An Informal History of American English by Bill Bryson

I am not surprised to read that Bryson is the top selling non-fiction author. This is one of his early books. It is more than a history of English in America. It is a history of the USA and many things in it as well as the development of the language. His final chapter on American English today examines the call for non-sexist inclusive language. Bryson is in the main happy with this and he quotes examples from a modern Bible translation. Here is where I part company, having theological reasons for a more literal translation of the original languages.