... [a] lucid and insightful study of linguistics ... Yet Don’t Believe A Word is too wise, and too personal, to be regarded as just another book on language: it entertains just as much as it informs ... Shariatmadari, a Guardian journalist, is excellent on the way in which class associations between language and an accent are immediately forged, just as there is no such thing as a classless, accentless use of language; everyone has an accent as a social identifier ... There are reminders of the gravity of language throughout, and how it distinguishes itself from 'lesser forms' ... The odd section can be somewhat hard going, despite Shariatmadari’s obvious enthusiasm, but some good jokes make up for that ... above all, this is a generous and enthralling study of the basis of how we communicate.
It’s a brisk and friendly introduction to linguistics, and a synthesis of the field’s recent discoveries ... The scope of Don't Beliee a Word is impressive ... Shariatmadari is an earnest writer—clarity, not style, is his priority—but the quirks of human and animal speech are strange and alluring enough to leaven the narrative ... I am glad to have had this conversation.
... a skilful summation of the latest research on how languages emerge, change, convey meaning and influence how we think ... This is quite a scholarly and serious book. I admired its refusal to lighten its denser arguments with that jokey 'here comes the science bit' flippancy that so often grates in non-fiction books on complex topics. Shariatmadari’s style is never less than clear, but there isn’t too much handholding. His account requires a little patience, but then so does linguistics. Stick with it and it is a meaty, rewarding and even necessary read.
Shariatmadari thoughtfully addresses the roles of politics, power and geography regarding how we speak, as well as which languages are considered valuable (or not) ... Don’t Believe a Word is a heartfelt and illuminating starting point on the path to that understanding.
Each chapter leans into and deconstructs a different erroneous claim about language, providing a wealth of context without getting too bogged down in technical jargon ... Shariatmadari’s treatise fits into the bevy of books about modern language written for a general audience, which matches his goal of reaching not just, in his words, 'the nerds and pedants.' A worthwhile addition to any collection.
Inquiring minds curious about epenthesis backronyms and heteronymy will find answers here. An at-times quite challenging but agile and lively introduction to language.
... mostly accessible ... Shariatmadari has a gift for making obscure linguistic concepts plain ... Shariatmadari, however, does have a tendency to belabor his points (as in his overlong discussion of dialect vs. language). Nevertheless, this is an engrossing introduction to some basic problems in contemporary linguistics.
