The Story of English in 100 Words - somersault

The Story of English in 100 Words

Linguist David Crystal describes English as "a vacuum cleaner of a language" — speakers merrily swipe some words from other languages, adopt others because they're cool or sound classy, and simply make up other terms.

Crystal believes every word has a story to tell, even the ones as commonplace as “and.” In his new book, The Story of English in 100 Words, he compiles a collection of words — classic words like "tea" and new words like "app" — that explain how the English language has evolved.

On NPR’s Talk of the Nation (@totn), he tells about the challenge of compiling this list and the idiosyncrasies of the English language.

Read and hear this interview in full.

This interview clearly sets the foundation for the reason the new Common English Bible (@CommonEngBible) was just published: because the digital revolution is accelerating changes in the English language and its everyday usage and understandability. The popular Common English Bible, ranking #7 on the Christian retail bestseller list for April, is necessary to clearly communicate God’s Word since 9,000 new words and meaning revisions are added yearly to the English lexicon. The Common English Bible is today’s freshest translation and uses natural, 21st century English.

Sample the CEB on its website.

Contact Somersault (@smrsault) to help you clearly communicate your brand’s marketing message.

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Somersault Group

Announcing Somersault Group, doing business as Somersault. We believe the unprecedented changes occurring in the publishing world aren’t a crisis; they’re a playground of possibilities. We're here to help clients embrace change and leverage it to fulfill their mission. We're flipping the publishing world right-side up! Due to rapidly churning communication technology and seismic shifts in the book market distribution landscape – from the Internet to eReaders and the iPad to individual book print-on-demand capability – publishers expect authors to take more responsibility for the development, promotion, and sales of their books. Somersault helps publishers, agents, ministry partners, and Christian authors adapt to these changes with dexterity. We combine the experience and vision of Somersault publishing executives with the integrated marketing and technology expertise of digital natives. We honor good ideas and the creative people who embody them. We believe in the power of books to change lives, and are committed to help authors tell their stories and actively engage their readers. We want to be known for our nimbleness and responsiveness. Anticipating and embracing the future, being attentive to consumer behavior, inviting collaboration, and encouraging entrepreneurship are our core values, as we operate within the framework of having fun and reflecting the kingdom of God. We’re seeking ‘blue water’ opportunities, be they pond, lake, or ocean. We provide authors with brand counseling, editorial direction, research capabilities, marketing strategy, Internet and social media presence, and a comprehensive portfolio of publishing assistance. Our mission is to change lives by connecting inspirational content creators with readers using exceptional creativity, right-now technology, and old-fashioned personal care. See all our social networks on our Google profile. Contact us at hello@somersaultgroup.com, 1.616.551.1539, 131 Division Ave. S., Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4215.

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