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lydiasmith27's review against another edition
4.0
Dorren uses so many different strategies to pull you into the complications of each language that you end up learning just as much about platypi or music history as you do the languages themselves. Everything is compressed into tight 2-5 page chapters with an obvious message that keeps the reading light and humorous while still elucidating crucial details (I also appreciate a writer who can admit that “this is a story for another time.”) My brain feels dense with knowledge and I’m already craving to learn more of the nitty-gritty to understand linguistic patterns and structure. Luckily, he added a page of book recommendations at the end.
bellebcooper's review against another edition
3.0
The writing style was fun, and I learned some really interesting things about different languages. By the end I'd had enough, though, and was ready to finish it and move on to something new.
andeaclark's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book very enjoyable. The short chapters made it easy to read for short and long periods of time. The chapters covered a wide range of languages, including many that I had never heard of. Some of the descriptions were technical, but since all of the chapters are short, you move on relatively quickly to another topic. This book made me want to read other books about languages.
ncbarbwire's review against another edition
4.0
A good way to start off the reading year! Frustrating at first, as I was expecting a bit more depth about each language, but if that notion had come to fruition, the book would have to occupy multiple volumes! What “Lingo” ends up being is a sampler, much like a box of candy, with tasty examples of the quirks and appeals of each of Europe’s 60 main languages. A fun overview with only a couple of conceits that don’t quite hit their mark.
meegs_reads_'s review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
alisonconner's review against another edition
3.0
Anecdotes about various languages of Europe, from the large to the very small. For example, the closest language to Proto-Indo-European is Lithuanian. Interesting, but ephemeral and somewhat uneven.
brunoespadana's review against another edition
3.0
A fun little book. A trip through all the European languages using each one to illustrate language families, how they evolved, how they influenced each other and the many oddities and similarities between them. Not an in-depth analysis by any means, but full of interesting points and well written.