Daniel Hahn

Europe in 60 languages

A review of Lingo, by Gaston Dorren. A series of quirky linguistic stories full etymological pleasures

So Basque is an ergative language! Well, I never. I couldn’t have told you that a week ago. I even know now what that means (more or less). And, well… so much for Basque. Moving along, then… In Lingo, Gaston Dorren speeds around Europe, giving each of his chosen 60-odd languages three or four pages’ attention before striding off again.

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