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The Mother Tongue Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Bill Bryson (Author), Stephen McLaughlin (Narrator), HarperAudio (Publisher)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 7,399 ratings
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With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson - the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent - brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience, and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can't) to the fine lost art of swearing, Bryson tells the fascinating, often uproarious story of an inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants that developed into one of the world's largest growth industries.

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  1. Listening Length
    10 hours and 44 minutes
  2. Author
    Bill Bryson
  3. Narrator
    Stephen McLaughlin
  4. Audible release date
    December 15, 2015
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    HarperAudio
  7. ASIN
    B014VDA45C
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 10 hours and 44 minutes
Author Bill Bryson
Narrator Stephen McLaughlin
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 15, 2015
Publisher HarperAudio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B014VDA45C
Best Sellers Rank #8,672 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#15 in Linguistics Reference
#26 in Words, Language & Grammar (Audible Books & Originals)
#62 in Humor Essays (Books)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
7,399 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book informative and entertaining, with interesting facts about English. They describe it as an easy, engaging read with a humorous tone. The book brings together history and humor in an entertaining way. Readers praise the author's writing style as brilliant and funny. However, some feel the pacing is sloppy and the content is dated.

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Information qualityReadabilityEnjoymentHistoryAuthorAccuracyPacingDated content
339 customers mention "Information quality"339 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They say it covers everything from the beginnings of English to words that reflect centuries gone by. The author imparts information in a way that is both informative and entertaining.

"...This book explains a lot of the weird things about English and how we got to the present state of modern English. It's very fun to read...." Read more

"...English is richer in vocabulary –the Oxford English Dictionary lists 650,000 words...." Read more

"...from the book as his writing style is so good and he imparts information in a manner that is both informative but also fun...." Read more

"...such as origins of our ever evolving English language, pronunciations of different regions, spelling (including history of), correct and incorrect..." Read more

330 customers mention "Readability"288 positive42 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They appreciate the author's writing style and content. The book covers topics like language origins, spelling, grammar, and dissemination in a clear manner.

"...It's very fun to read. Bill Bryson is a great writer about whatever subject he chooses." Read more

"...constantly reading aloud to her passages from the book as his writing style is so good and he imparts information in a manner that is both..." Read more

"...for a jaunty journey through the English language, this will be an appealing book...." Read more

"This breezy book, based mostly on the scholarly contributions of others, examines the English language from many different angles...." Read more

252 customers mention "Enjoyment"233 positive19 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor and wit. They find it entertaining and informative, with funny phrases and word games.

"...It's very fun to read. Bill Bryson is a great writer about whatever subject he chooses." Read more

"...so good and he imparts information in a manner that is both informative but also fun. I read the book twice on one cruise!..." Read more

"...may be dubious or reckless in its assertions, this is still a very entertaining and educative book...." Read more

"...It is very comprehensive and very entertaining. Bryson is a skilled story-teller and has obviously read widely and studied hard...." Read more

51 customers mention "History"48 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it informative and entertaining, bringing together history with humor. The book is described as an enjoyable romp through the past that gives a sense of how we got here and why.

"...Here goes anyway. This is an interesting, informative and amusing piece of literature..." Read more

"...This is a language appreciation book. It is filled with fun facts...." Read more

"...The book is filled not just with charming anecdote but with knowledge...." Read more

"...Bryson an amusing writer, but it's so full of interesting and entertaining facts that a topic which under other circumstances could have been quite..." Read more

31 customers mention "Author"31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the author's writing style. They find his humor entertaining and appreciate his intellectual depth. Readers re-read his books and enjoy his research.

"While an accomplished author of many genres, this book is out of character and moves at a ponderous pace compared to most of Bryson’s works...." Read more

"When we read Bryson, we learn and we chuckle while doing so. What a gifted writer he is!..." Read more

"...Even though the author is no linguist, he certainly is an accomplished writer, and produced a very interesting book: fun to read and instructive at..." Read more

"Good price & good condition. Love the author's work & always enjoy reading a new one. for me." Read more

36 customers mention "Accuracy"14 positive22 negative

Customers have differing views on the book's accuracy. Some find it detailed and interesting, especially if interested in trivial details and etymology. Others feel the book is repetitive with lots of facts delivered glibly. They also mention that the book contains factual mistakes and oversimplified information.

"...these redeemable tidbits are space widely and buried in thousands of examples...." Read more

"...The sections that deal with the history of words and phrases provide amazing detail of how so many other languages and cultures are incorporated..." Read more

"...While there may have been inaccuracies in the details, this book nevertheless made a subject that had never interested me at all seem quite..." Read more

"..."The Mother Tongue" is an easy read, but unfortunately it contains many factual mistakes and, as one other reviewer put it so well, "sloppy..." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive10 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book slow. They mention it's poorly written, with mistakes and inaccuracies. The paper quality is also disappointing for them.

"While an accomplished author of many genres, this book is out of character and moves at a ponderous pace compared to most of Bryson’s works...." Read more

"...There are several mistakes obvious to me, so I am afraid other "facts" might by incorrect as well. I simply cannot trust Bryson." Read more

"...Some of the stuff is just cheap shots. And seriously, calling Tolkien the author of "the Hobbit trilogy"?..." Read more

"Not what I expected from Bill Bryson, this is a serious but interesting and easy-to-read book on the history of the English language...." Read more

11 customers mention "Dated content"0 positive11 negative

Customers find the book's content dated. They say it's an older edition and beginning to show its age.

"...My one criticism (which really isn't a criticism) is that the book is a bit dated...." Read more

"...After noticing that it felt quite dated, I checked the title page and noticed it was printed in 1990, with a second edition ten years later...." Read more

"...a 2015 publication date for the Kindle edition, this is clearly a much older book..." Read more

"This book provides a nice review, but is beginning to show its age somewhat...." Read more

Excellent!
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent!
Great read and most informative. Terrific blend of education and fun.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kevin F King
    5.0 out of 5 stars A really informative fun book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I like words and understanding where they come from. This book explains a lot of the weird things about English and how we got to the present state of modern English. It's very fun to read. Bill Bryson is a great writer about whatever subject he chooses.
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  • Samuel W. Coulbourn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bryson's book The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way--is delightful and informative.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Bryson, Bill, The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. 2001.

    Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, IA in 1951. He attended Drake University but dropped out after two years and went backpacking in Europe. He got a job at a psychiatric hospital in England, where he met a nurse there. They married and returned to Des Moines, where he completed his bachelor’s degree at Drake. Then the couple returned to England where they have lived since. He has written several books, worked as a journalist and educator.

    Bryson starts his story of the English language with the Cro-Magnons and their cave drawings, then came the Basques and their language Euskara, which pre-dates the Neolithic languages spoken in Stone Age Europe.

    Those were the days of the Indo-Europeans, but Bryson suggests that there may never have been such a language. At any rate, it branched into Celtic, Germanic, Greek, Indo-Iranian, Slavonic and Thraco-Illyrian, which further branched to Latin, Faroese, Parthian, Armenian, Hindi, Lithuanian, Sanskrit and Portuguese.

    From the Germanic branch came English, Frisian, Flemish, and Dutch. He devotes a chapter to the First Thousand Years, which I think is the heart of the story of the English language.

    Today in Schleswig-Holstein, where Germany connects to Denmark, even today you can hear people talking in what sounds like a lost dialect of English. “Veather ist cold” and “What ist de clock?” According to a professor of German at nearby Kiel University, this is very close to the way people spoke in Britain 1000 years ago. This area of Germany, called Angeln, was once the home of the Angles, one of the Germanic tribes who crossed the North Sea to displace the native Celts.

    Nearby, in marshy northern Holland and western Germany live a group whose dialect is even more closely related to English. These are the Frisians. In about 450 A.D., following the withdrawal of Roman troops from Britain, these Angles and Frisians, as well as Saxons and Jutes, began an exodus to England. They dominated most of the British Isles, except for Wales, Scotland and Cornwall, which remained Celtic strongholds.

    Although the new nation was dominated by the Saxons, it became known as England, after the Angles. These early tribes were functionally illiterate, so there is no written account of this period.

    It must have been a blow to the Celts, overrun by primitive, unlettered warriors, because they were far more literate, sophisticated people.

    For the next several centuries, what was to become the English language grew, swallowing up Celtic, Angle, Saxon languages, and then adding Norman, and French… then discarding loads of words, but steadily adding Latin, French and Scandinavian words. Shakespeare came along and single-handedly added thousands of words, like: barefaced, critical, leapfrog, monumental, castigate, majestic, obscene, frugal, radiance, dwindle, and many more. Other bright lights of England, like Ben Jonson, Thomas More and Isaac Newton, added more.

    At this point Bryson notes how many languages have similar words, like bruder in German, biradar in Farsi, bhrata in Sanskrit, bhrathair in Gaelic, all meaning brother in English.

    Over 300 million people speak English in some fashion, and it seems as if all the rest of the world wish they spoke English. English has invaded other languages mercilessly. For years the French resisted introduction of English words into their language, but no more. There are more students of English in China than there are people in the United States.

    English is richer in vocabulary –the Oxford English Dictionary lists 650,000 words. English speakers have 200,000 words in common use; German, 184,000 and French 100,000.

    English is more flexible than other popular languages. It is not so rigid in word ordering.

    And, English is comparatively simple to spell. There are fewer consonantal clusters, singsong tonal variations and it is generally free of gender.

    Germans talk about ein image problem or das Cash Flow, Austrians eat Big Mäcs, Japanese spread a blanket and have a pikunikku, drink kohi (coffee) or miruku (milk), speak through a maiku (microphone), shop in a depaato (department store), and put on meeku (make-up). Poles watch telewizja and French shop at le drugstore.

    Some Americans today bemoan the fact that English is becoming extinct, in danger of being crowded out by millions who speak Spanish, or Chinese. They have sought to enact legislation declaring English the official language of the U.S.A.

    Bryson warns that the danger of another language crowding out English is not the real problem. More and more Americans show that they are unable to grow a useful vocabulary, use educated grammar and spelling, or express themselves intelligently. If you use Facebook or other such social media, note when a popular topic comes up for wide discussion and many chime in the comment: How many comments reflect a low level of fluency in what must be the native language of people?
    Author Bryson ends his book with his greatest worry about the future of English…not that the various strands will drift apart, but that they will grow indistinguishable. What a sad loss that would be.
    40 people found this helpful
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  • Candles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Very enlightening it’s a good read.
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  • Donna F. Wenger
    3.0 out of 5 stars Purports to explain how English became English...sort of.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well, you’d think I learned my lesson. A few books ago I reviewed Bryson’s NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND. But once again with this book as with NOTES, the title intrigued me—I love English and learning about its history—so I bit.

    Here’s the good part—there are sections of the book that are truly engaging.

    And, here’s the bad part—once again, he goes on and on long after the point has been made.

    And then there’s the erroneous part. After I had begun the book, I read the reviews on Goodreads. I was somewhat startled to find a fair number of people who absolutely panned the work. The main reason was the opinion of the reviewers that parts of the book were erroneous. Since I am no linguist, I thought “piffle—just over-smart people who know everything.”

    But then I encountered two passages that gave me pause.
    At one point, Bryson refers to the South African language Xoxa—well, I grew up in southern Africa, and as far as I know, there is NO such language. I suspect he means Xhosa which is a southern Africa language—frequently referred to as the click language. X is one of the letters clicked.

    And the passage talks about Scrabble. He claims that the highest scoring in a game was 3,881—and it included the word “psycholanalyzing.” HUH? How is that even possible. The only way I can figure that out is that a player laid the letters “analyzing” and connected that to a “g” already on the board. Then in a later move, someone added “pyscho.” Yet, Bryson reports that word earned 1,539 points. Can that be done? Maybe, if you’re a Scrabble player, you can figure it out and let me know.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Zkidd
    5.0 out of 5 stars More genius from Bill Bryson
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    When I was in college or grad school I would have done almost anything to have an instructor like Bill Bryson. This man can take almost any subject and turn it into a book that you never want to put down. I drove my wife crazy as I was constantly reading aloud to her passages from the book as his writing style is so good and he imparts information in a manner that is both informative but also fun. I read the book twice on one cruise! If you ever wonder why the English language is so darn strange then you need to read this book. It should be required reading for anyone who speaks English, or at least tries to. Brilliant!!!!!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Serket
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Mother Tongue
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this book written by Bill Bryson. The author covers the entire history of human language, from the crude murmurings of Neanderthal man and the more complex communication of Cro-Magnon man, our ancestors from 30,000 years ago, until the explosion of English as basically a global language within the past century. The book explores why some words are spelled and pronounced in unexpected ways.

    Noah Webster sometimes stooped to plagiarism and Samuel Johnson was often wildly careless and inaccurate when defining words. Some of the most cherished rules of grammar can be traced to an 18th century clergyman named Robert Lowth. One of the greatest contributors to the history of English was a doctor confined to a lunatic asylum for murder named William C. Minor.

    The book has a lot of interesting facts crammed in and even includes a little about other languages. Probably the most fascinating section was about how certain rules on grammar and spelling are ambiguous. Some reviewers have said it was a very funny book. I think most of the subtle and dry humor was beyond my comprehension, because I only found a few lines to be amusing. The book was written about 30 years ago, so most of the sources are from the 1980s and it would be nice to see an updated version, with more recent facts and newer anecdotes.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Michael
    5.0 out of 5 stars The English language is bizarre
    Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    To paraphrase Arthur C. Clarke: The English language isn't stranger than you imagine, it is stranger than you can imagine! Great reading. Keep a copy in the "library".
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  • Javier García
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book
    Reviewed in Spain on October 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    "The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way" is a fascinating book written by Bill Bryson that explores the origins and evolution of the English language. Bryson takes readers on a linguistic journey through time, delving into the various events, influences, and quirks that have shaped the English language into what it is today.

    One of the book's strengths lies in Bryson's ability to present complex linguistic concepts in an accessible and entertaining manner. He effortlessly weaves together historical anecdotes, etymological explanations, and humorous observations, making the subject matter both educational and enjoyable for readers of all backgrounds.

    Bryson delves into the diverse origins of English, highlighting how the language has absorbed elements from various Celtic, Latin, French, and Germanic languages over the centuries. He explores the impact of historical events such as the Norman Conquest and the Renaissance, which profoundly influenced the vocabulary and grammar of English. Additionally, he discusses the often overlooked role of everyday individuals in shaping the language, from playwrights like Shakespeare to ordinary people who have contributed new words and phrases.

    Throughout the book, Bryson also sheds light on the quirks and idiosyncrasies of English, addressing topics such as spelling, pronunciation, and regional dialects. He provides illuminating insights into why English is such a challenging language to learn, and he delves into its ever-evolving nature, where words continually change in meaning and new terms are constantly being added.

    "The Mother Tongue" not only presents a comprehensive account of the history of the English language but also explores its global impact. Bryson delves into how English has become a dominant language worldwide, focusing on its spread during the British Empire and its current prevalence as a lingua franca.

    Overall, "The Mother Tongue" is an engaging and informative exploration of the English language. Bryson's wit, extensive research, and passion for his subject shine through, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in language, history, or culture.
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  • Gabriela Sañudo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great an funny
    Reviewed in Mexico on November 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book is really good, it has many interesting facts and it is easy to read. I really recommend it.
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  • sa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottime condizioni e bellissima edizione
    Reviewed in Italy on November 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Ottimo servizio, copia arrivata in leggero ritardo ma in condizioni eccellenti, e il libro é interessante e divertentissimo. Venditore molto gentile.
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  • A M BALASUBRAMANIAM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for English aficionados
    Reviewed in India on July 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A good book on history of English, usage, pronunciation. Some of the anecdotes narrated are interesting. It is English demystified.
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