"This is a book that I'll definitely be bringing into my classroom with me." — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"'English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over, and goes through their pockets for loose grammar.'
-James D. Nicoll
Organized alphabetically for easy reference, A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" is an accessible lexicon of foreign words and phrases used in English, containing everything from aficionado (Spanish) to zeitgeist (German). Inside you'll find translations, definitions, origins, and a descriptive timeline of each item's evolution. Entries include:
- À la carte: from the card or of the menu (French)
- Fiasco: complete failure (Italian)
- Dungarees: thick cotton cloth/overalls (Hindi)
- Diaspora: dispersion (Greek)
- Smorgasbord: bread and butter (Swedish)
- Cognoscenti: those who know (Italian)
- Compos mentis: having mastery of one's mind; with it (Latin)
A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" — The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English
My students are going to love this book. Filled with words that everyone knows but many aren't aware of the origins (faux pas, eureka, confetti), words that don't necessarily seem foreign (assassin, vampire, postmortem), and words that no one* has ever heard of (sine qua non, purdah, kowtow). This is a book that I'll definitely be bringing into my classroom with me. I'm sure that my students will absolutely love all the information filled in these pages.
Originality: 10/10
Ending: NA
Characters: NA
Plot: NA
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: NA
Imagery: NA
Setting: NA
Voice: NA
Style: NA
Tone: NA
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 30/30 A+
To the FTC, with love: Review Book
*No one is used extremely loosely here