- January 28, 2009 • 11:49 pm PST
- + responses
I have recently been engrossed by a book that I just bought by happenstance some time ago. Although, I have not completely read the book (I am 2/3 of the way), I am inspired by this site to share a book that has taken my whole understanding of language to something surreal and sublime.
Most everyone have heard of the story or know about the Tower of Babel. To be short, man's hubris to be equal and closer to his God brought forth only his anger, and for punishment "confound[ed] their language" so "that they may not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:1-9 KJV) This Biblical narrative is a very simple explanation for the abundance of languages spoken today. But, then, one can easily deduce that a universal language of sort existed before then. And to this extent, the author, Guy Deutscher, takes us on a fascinating narrative tale of "mankind's greatest invention" although, he posits, that it was "never invented."
Now, I don't to spoil too much, but I do highly encourage everyone to go read the book.
