SKU: 10479275759

Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages

Sale price$19.12 Regular price$21.25
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.31 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 6 - Aug 11

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Babel: Around the World in Twenty LanguagesEnglish is the world language, except that most of the world doesn't speak it only one in five people does. Dorren calculates that to speak fluently with half of the world's 7. 4 billion people in their mother tongues, you would need to know no fewer than twenty languages. He sets out to explore these top twenty world languages, which range from the familiar (French, Spanish) to the surprising (Malay, Javanese, Bengali). Babel whisks the reader on a

English is the world language, except that most of the world doesn't speak it--only one in five people does. Dorren calculates that to speak fluently with half of the world's 7.4 billion people in their mother tongues, you would need to know no fewer than twenty languages. He sets out to explore these top twenty world languages, which range from the familiar (French, Spanish) to the surprising (Malay, Javanese, Bengali). Babel whisks the reader on a delightful journey to every continent of the world, tracing how these world languages rose to greatness while others fell away and showing how speakers today handle the foibles of their mother tongues. Whether showcasing tongue-tying phonetics or elegant but complicated writing scripts, and mind-bending quirks of grammar, Babel vividly illustrates that mother tongues are like nations: each has its own customs and beliefs that seem as self-evident to those born into it as they are surprising to the outside world.

Among many other things, Babel will teach you why modern Turks can't read books that are a mere 75 years old, what it means in practice for Russian and English to be relatives, and how Japanese developed separate "dialects" for men and women. Dorren lets you in on his personal trials and triumphs while studying Vietnamese in Hanoi, debunks ten widespread myths about Chinese characters, and discovers that Swahili became the lingua franca in a part of the world where people routinely speak three or more languages. Witty, fascinating and utterly compelling, Babel will change the way you look at and listen to the world and how it speaks.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Published: 12/04/2018
ISBN: 9780802128799
Pages: 320
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.70w x 1.50d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 07/01/2018 pg. 51
Booklist 10/15/2018 pg. 6
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2018
Library Journal 10/15/2018 pg. 65
Publishers Weekly 11/12/2018
Shelf Awareness 12/07/2018

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 10479275759

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 21 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
K
Verified Purchase
Kayce Tecumseh
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Super comfy pillows
Size: King / 2 Packs, Color: White/Soft
I ordered these pillows for my bed and they are so big and fluffy. So comfortable and great price. So far they keep their shape and offer great support.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2026
Y
Verified Purchase
Yisenia Medina Pérez
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Hotel Grand Set of 2 pillows
Size: King
Excellent quality and comfort. The pillows are soft but with the perfect support, ideal for any sleeping position. They feel fresh thanks to the cotton cover and keep their shape very well. Without a doubt, a great purchase for a hotel-like break at home.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
Santana
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Highly recommend
Size: King
These pillows are super comfortable and feel just like hotel quality. They’re soft but still give great support for my neck and head. I’ve been sleeping much better since I got them. They stay fluffy and don’t go flat, and the material feels nice and cool. Definitely a great purchase
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2026
D
Verified Purchase
Dayana Pino Ruiz
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect Comfort Every Night 💤
Size: King
Super comfy pillows! Perfect mix of soft and supportive, and they don’t go flat. Sleep feels way better—definitely recommend 😊
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2026
S
Verified Purchase
Sandi
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Time will tell
Size: King
I won’t actually use these for a few days when my mattress arrives. Unboxed this morning and they are not as plump and full as I expected but they’re laying out to expand. Overall first impression is they felt comfortable and I could adjust them with my hands. They seem well made and durable. Cant say anything yet about firmness or shape retention since I’ve not used them. They feel like they will be soft. So time will tell but so far I’m loving what I see.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2026

recommand products