Do You Know...

that goodbye actually means 'God be with you'?
that nice used to mean 'stupid and foolish'?
that phrases like 'flesh and blood' is created by Shakespear?
that non of Shakespear's original manuscript had survived?
or that the existence of many English vocabulary is in fact a result of human errors?

Even though English is not our native tongue, in our society, we use English everyday that we have taken many things for granted. I have always been interested in the etymology of words and this book satisfies much of my curiosity. After reading just 5 chapters of the book (I am still at it), I am amazed by it and it brings forth a renewed appreciation for the language that I teach.

In my opinion, every English teacher in the world should read the book at least once! It's true, the language is filled with booby-traps, contradictions and irony. It would be fascinating for any learner of the language to know that the language is actually a great mish-mash of hundreds of languages. For the opponents of Singlish, if you think Singlish is rojak and nonsensical, maybe you will change your mind after reading this book! It is however, not the easiest book to read. One may find it too technical and there are many unfamiliar jargons used. And for those who are not avid readers or keen learners of the language, you will definitely find the book dry and boring.