The Making of English

by Henry Bradley

This etymological tour de force was written by a self-taught farmer's son who became a world-famous linguist and senior editor of the Oxford English Dictionary . By the time he was a teenager, Henry Bradley (1845-1923) had immersed himself in several classical languages. His achievements were ultimately recognized with honorary degrees from Oxford and Heidelberg, and fellowships at Magdalen College and the British Academy. This 1904 work represents the culmination of his philological career.
Scholarly yet nontechnical, The Making of English explains in simple terms the relationships between English and other tongues--Greek, Latin, German, Spanish, and French. Topics include the similarities and differences between English and German, characteristics of Old English, and the composition, derivation, and root-creation involved in the process of the making of words. The author also discusses changes in meaning that occur over time, and profiles some historical figures who were influential in shaping the English language.

Genres: Language, Linguistics, History

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

Reviews

[More Books Than Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and accessible although I had to look up several grammatical terms, especially relating to case, mood and tense that we English speakers can blithely ignore. I remember finding German genders and inflections bewildering in high school and I kept wondering why people would clutter up their language like that.

The author writes clearly with precision and accuracy in word choices and grammar. One good example is “conduce to lucidity” which I just love and would like to find a place to use.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've now read on this subject. It was actually published first in 1904 by a man who was an editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. Not only does he describe the changes in the language and the many other languages that contribute to English, but he also tells why so many words have multiple meanings, sometimes opposite meanings, and why some words have come to mean something completely different from their original meaning. He lists many of the words that came into English from several places that none of the other books I read mentioned, like Greek--you're in the right field with geology, Mike! This is also a Dover publication.

[Rahul Khanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my first books in etimology and a great introduction. I recommend it.