{"product_id":"may-we-borrow-your-language","title":"May We Borrow Your Language?","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe English language that is spoken by one billion people around the world is a linguistic mongrel, its vocabulary a diverse mix resulting from centuries of borrowing from other tongues. From the Celtic languages of pre-Roman Britain to Norman French; from the Vikings'' Old Scandinavian to Persian, Arawak, Cantonese, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Inuit and Erdu –  amongst a host of others – we have enriched our modern language with such words as tulip, slogan, doolally, avocado, moccasin, ketchup and ukulele. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eMay We Borrow Your Language?\u003c\/i\u003e explores the intriguing and unfamiliar stories behind scores of familiar words that the English language has filched from abroad; in so doing, it also sheds fascinating light on the wider history of the development of the English we speak today. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFull of etymological nuggets to intrigue and delight the reader, this is a gift book for word buffs to cherish – as cerebrally stimulating as it is more-ishly entertaining.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487848571253,"sku":"9781786694553","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781786694553.jpg?v=1786355071","url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/products\/may-we-borrow-your-language","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}