Languages in general

This is a must for anyone studying a modern or ancient language at degree level. It costs about £18, which seemed like a lot at the time, but you really do get what you pay for in this case. The best thing about David Crystal - the author - is that he knows exactly how to make things dead interesting but also extremely informative at the same time. As soon as you open this book in the bookshop you will read something that makes you think "wow" or "I didn't know that" - everything is presented using diagrams, photos and drawings, and subjects range from the ancient roots of written language to the mechanics of Esperanto. Other ...

Reading the Past: Etruscan, Larissa Bonfante This is a short but interesting book, exploring the place of the Etruscans in the ancient world and their influence on the Romans, which was considerable: they passed on the tradition of funerary games, augury, and the so-called "Roman" alphabet. With this is an overview of sources for our present-day knowledge of the Etruscan language: tomb art, pottery, and jewellery. There's a good section taking you through mythological scenes on the backs of Etruscan mirrors, with native and non-native strands picked out: just as the Romans were heavily influenced by the Etruscans, so the Etruscans were heavily ...