What do you think?
Rate this book
In a Manner of Speaking: The Story of Spoken English
Why do we have so many dialects in England? Why do we not all speak in standard English? How has our history shaped and influenced the language we speak today? In a Manner of Speaking is a fun and fascinating exploration of spoken English that will answer these questions and many more. Following history from the time of the Roman conquest through to the days of the British Empire, chapters explore the beginnings of spoken English, how each invading force brought different sounds to the language, and how the English tongue has evolved over time. This is not a manual on English grammar. It is about how we came to speak our modern English, and why, even in the country of its birth, there are so many variations on the way the language is spoken. Witty, interesting and easy to read, In a Manner of Speaking is also superbly illustrated by renowned cartoonist Barrie Appleby.
256 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2017
6 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 22, 2024
This is a terrific book that I have read two or three times now and will read again, no doubt. It is the history of the origins and development of the English language and, believe me, it requires an in-depth look to make it all make sense.
The great thing about this book is that it could so easily have ended up as a dry, dull tome that no-one but academics and students would want to read (maybe under duress). Instead, author Charlie Haylock wrote it in a colloquial, easy style that is easy and fun to read, and teamed up with cartoonist/artist Barrie Appleby to illustrate it. The book is liberally sprinkled with amusing cartoons illustrating many of the points made in the text, and these both amuse you and break up the text. The result is an enjoyable read that teaches and entertains in equal measure – well done, guys!
The book covers history from the Celts and Ancient Britons, the Roman influence, the Germanic invasions, the Viking invasions (rape and pillage abounded) and then the Normans. In addition, there was the influence of the thousands of words introduced via Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, from India, North America and Africa. Yes, English has it all, and then there are all the words introduced after the Agrarian and Industrial revolutions, not to mention the computer age.
He includes the reasons there are different words and spellings for the same things, and words that have more than one meaning with different spellings and pronunciations – no wonder foreigners find it difficult to learn English, as do many Englishmen and women!
Haylock explains why there are so many regional dialects and accents in such a small country, the enormous influence of the Bible and Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and others, and how it all fits together. His conclusion is that it is impossible to set in stone a ‘proper’ way of speaking and writing English because it changes continually. I am a bit of a pedant when it comes to grammar because I find it frustrating that so many people do not bother about learning correct punctuation or even omit it altogether, but I know I am fighting a losing battle, as Charlie Haylock points out. There has never been an ‘official’ English in the way that there is an official French.
He also explains that the reason English is popular with writers is that it has so many interesting ways of expression that it is endlessly adaptable and useful in composing stories and expressing emotions.
I love this book and recommend it to anyone interested in English as a language, whether wishing to learn it or just trying to understand why it is so complex. It may also make you feel better that if you get it wrong because most people will forgive the error and understand you nevertheless. Five stars.
The great thing about this book is that it could so easily have ended up as a dry, dull tome that no-one but academics and students would want to read (maybe under duress). Instead, author Charlie Haylock wrote it in a colloquial, easy style that is easy and fun to read, and teamed up with cartoonist/artist Barrie Appleby to illustrate it. The book is liberally sprinkled with amusing cartoons illustrating many of the points made in the text, and these both amuse you and break up the text. The result is an enjoyable read that teaches and entertains in equal measure – well done, guys!
The book covers history from the Celts and Ancient Britons, the Roman influence, the Germanic invasions, the Viking invasions (rape and pillage abounded) and then the Normans. In addition, there was the influence of the thousands of words introduced via Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, from India, North America and Africa. Yes, English has it all, and then there are all the words introduced after the Agrarian and Industrial revolutions, not to mention the computer age.
He includes the reasons there are different words and spellings for the same things, and words that have more than one meaning with different spellings and pronunciations – no wonder foreigners find it difficult to learn English, as do many Englishmen and women!
Haylock explains why there are so many regional dialects and accents in such a small country, the enormous influence of the Bible and Shakespeare, Ben Jonson and others, and how it all fits together. His conclusion is that it is impossible to set in stone a ‘proper’ way of speaking and writing English because it changes continually. I am a bit of a pedant when it comes to grammar because I find it frustrating that so many people do not bother about learning correct punctuation or even omit it altogether, but I know I am fighting a losing battle, as Charlie Haylock points out. There has never been an ‘official’ English in the way that there is an official French.
He also explains that the reason English is popular with writers is that it has so many interesting ways of expression that it is endlessly adaptable and useful in composing stories and expressing emotions.
I love this book and recommend it to anyone interested in English as a language, whether wishing to learn it or just trying to understand why it is so complex. It may also make you feel better that if you get it wrong because most people will forgive the error and understand you nevertheless. Five stars.
February 14, 2021
A fascinating run through of the evolution of the English language. Well worth a read. From the vocal coach who taught Ralph Fiennes how to speak in a Suffolk accent.
January 23, 2025
I went to a talk given by the author, and bought this book there (so he signed it for me) as I was interested in languages.
I found it informative and interesting in parts, but rather patchy. It tries to cover an awful lot, in a fairly light and readable tone (complete with lots of full page cartoons that honestly do not add very much). There are many lists of words from different languages at different times in history. The actual text is not really written as humour, in spite of the cartoons giving the impression that this is a humorous book. There are a few typographical errors.
There are better introductions to the history of the English language, but nevertheless, I was happy to read to the end, and certainly learnt a lot.
I found it informative and interesting in parts, but rather patchy. It tries to cover an awful lot, in a fairly light and readable tone (complete with lots of full page cartoons that honestly do not add very much). There are many lists of words from different languages at different times in history. The actual text is not really written as humour, in spite of the cartoons giving the impression that this is a humorous book. There are a few typographical errors.
There are better introductions to the history of the English language, but nevertheless, I was happy to read to the end, and certainly learnt a lot.
August 30, 2025
This provides a potted history of the English language with a little bit of the history of the places English has been used as well. There are cartoons in there which didn't really do anything for me but which some people might enjoy. I've read, watched and listened to lots of things about English, so very little of this was new for me, but I liked the chapter about the Dutch influence as that's often neglected.
March 23, 2026
Definitely a book to dip in and out of, but absolutely packed with wisdom and fascinating facts on language, idiom and accent.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews