SKU: 10479275759

Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages

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Description

Babel: Around the World in Twenty LanguagesEnglish is the world language, except that most of the world doesn't speak it only one in five people does. Dorren calculates that to speak fluently with half of the world's 7. 4 billion people in their mother tongues, you would need to know no fewer than twenty languages. He sets out to explore these top twenty world languages, which range from the familiar (French, Spanish) to the surprising (Malay, Javanese, Bengali). Babel whisks the reader on a

English is the world language, except that most of the world doesn't speak it--only one in five people does. Dorren calculates that to speak fluently with half of the world's 7.4 billion people in their mother tongues, you would need to know no fewer than twenty languages. He sets out to explore these top twenty world languages, which range from the familiar (French, Spanish) to the surprising (Malay, Javanese, Bengali). Babel whisks the reader on a delightful journey to every continent of the world, tracing how these world languages rose to greatness while others fell away and showing how speakers today handle the foibles of their mother tongues. Whether showcasing tongue-tying phonetics or elegant but complicated writing scripts, and mind-bending quirks of grammar, Babel vividly illustrates that mother tongues are like nations: each has its own customs and beliefs that seem as self-evident to those born into it as they are surprising to the outside world.

Among many other things, Babel will teach you why modern Turks can't read books that are a mere 75 years old, what it means in practice for Russian and English to be relatives, and how Japanese developed separate "dialects" for men and women. Dorren lets you in on his personal trials and triumphs while studying Vietnamese in Hanoi, debunks ten widespread myths about Chinese characters, and discovers that Swahili became the lingua franca in a part of the world where people routinely speak three or more languages. Witty, fascinating and utterly compelling, Babel will change the way you look at and listen to the world and how it speaks.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Published: 12/04/2018
ISBN: 9780802128799
Pages: 320
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.70w x 1.50d

Review Citations: Library Journal Prepub Alert 07/01/2018 pg. 51
Booklist 10/15/2018 pg. 6
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2018
Library Journal 10/15/2018 pg. 65
Publishers Weekly 11/12/2018
Shelf Awareness 12/07/2018

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denise varnell
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Strong coffee smell. Might not be be compatible for everyone. However, product is really good.
Scent: Smoky coffee, Size: 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Love this product. May not be compatible for someone who doesn't like smell of coffee that does not detract from the product. it's really good for hair.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2026
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Natalie
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 3
So far nothing amazing
Scent: Smoky coffee, Size: 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
So I’ve been using for a couple of weeks now and I haven’t noticed any difference. I am going to continue on. I don’t know if it takes time for it to actually show some results. I will say two things about it. It comes solid for 12 my jar cracked and broken And it’s non-returnable so I just have to deal with it so that’s unfortunate after paying $20 second of all it is a solid mass so you have to put it in your hands and kind of warm it up for it to become any sort of an oil and I wouldn’t even consider it an oil at that it’s more of like a cream once you warm it up in your hands, but it doesn’t make your hair greasy. I use a small amount I would think that the jar would last a long time given that you don’t need a lot to get through to your scalp unfortunately, with my jar being cracked, I don’t know how that’s gonna affect the longevity of the product And it does have a smell think of burnt coffee beans that will dissipate after about an hour to an hour and a half after putting it on, but if you’re not putting it on, I’m just going to bed. It might be become an issue. I’m gonna wait it out. I hope I do see results from doing this but again so far nothing.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025
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megan moyes
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Wonderful product
Scent: Smoky coffee, Size: 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
I used this on a bald spot I had and it worked extremely well. Consistency is key though it needs to be used every day
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
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MYREEN
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
It works and I love it!
Scent: Smoky coffee, Size: 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
I love this product.. been using it for a few months now. My hair is more manageable and my thinning crown looks and feels fuller. The smoky smell, am not bothered because it disappears after a few minutes. I use it twice a week, massage very little amount on scalp and hair, then the next day wash it off with shampoo. I used to need to dye my gray every 3 to 4 months when some appear. Now, it's been 4 months since my last visit to the salon. I noticed my hair has darken a bit. I can delay my salon visit for another month unless I need a haircut!! Yehey!
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Prime
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
Good moisturizer. Rich scent.
Scent: Smoky coffee, Size: 4 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Raw Batana Oil provides goods moisturizing to hair and scalp and best applied with a little heat or steam. Pomade goes on easily once heated and does not feel heavy, greasy, or oily. Its rich fragrance eases on the nose after a short while. Difficult to say whether it is actually useful or whether it encourages hair growth. Leaves hair soft and easy to style.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2025

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