Language Visible: Unraveling the Mystery of the Alphabet from A to Z by David Sacks
Book Description
Letters are tangible language. Joining
together in endless combinations to actually show speech, letters
convey our messages and tell our stories. While we encounter these tiny
shapes hundreds of times a day, we take for granted the long,
fascinating history behind one of the most fundamental of human
inventions -- the alphabet.
The
heart of the book is the 26 fact-filled “biographies” of letters A
through Z, each one identifying the letter’s particular significance
for modern readers, tracing its development from ancient forms, and
discussing its noteworthy role in literature and other media. We learn,
for example, why the letter X has a sinister and sexual aura, how B
came to signify second best, why the word “mother” in many languages
starts with M, and what is the story of O.
Packed with information and lavishly illustrated, Language Visible is not only accessible and entertaining, but essential to the appreciation of our own language.
(Amazon.Com)