--- product_id: 287836510 title: "Harper Perennial The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language" price: "R1180" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 5 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/287836510-harper-perennial-the-power-of-babel-a-natural-history-language store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Harper Perennial The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language **Price:** R1180 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Harper Perennial The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language - **How much does it cost?** R1180 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/287836510-harper-perennial-the-power-of-babel-a-natural-history-language) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description “An essay in origins … as theoretical as Hawking and Gorst in trying to see into the deep past. McWhorter is a clear and witty writer.”― Harper’s In the first book written for the layperson about the natural Review: Muy buen libro. - Un libro fantástico sobre el origen del lenguaje y sobre el comportamiento de éste a lo largo de los siglos. Review: A witty, accessible, and richly informative work - In The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, linguist John McWhorter offers a witty, accessible, and richly informative exploration of how languages evolve. Challenging the notion of a “perfect” or “original” language, McWhorter argues that all languages are in a constant state of flux—changing, blending, dying, and being reborn in new forms. He compares language evolution to biological evolution, with dialects branching off and mutating over time, often under the influence of conquest, trade, colonisation, and migration. McWhorter dismantles the myth of linguistic purity, showing that all languages are hybrids, shaped by history and culture as much as by internal logic. He dives into creoles, slang, grammar shifts, and phonetic quirks, often illustrating his points with entertaining anecdotes and comparisons drawn from a wide range of languages. What sets this book apart is its ability to make complex linguistic concepts both understandable and engaging for general readers. McWhorter’s style is lively, conversational, and often humorous, making this an enjoyable read as well as an enlightening one. The Power of Babel is a compelling celebration of linguistic diversity, offering readers a new appreciation for the dynamic, living nature of human language. ## Features - Harper Perennial ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #110,525 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #197 in Linguistics Reference #3,033 in Language Study & Reference #11,762 in Higher & Continuing Education Textbooks | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 499 Reviews | ## Images ![Harper Perennial The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71wH8j1VVKL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Muy buen libro. *by A***S on 20 February 2025* Un libro fantástico sobre el origen del lenguaje y sobre el comportamiento de éste a lo largo de los siglos. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A witty, accessible, and richly informative work *by R***Y on 1 August 2025* In The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, linguist John McWhorter offers a witty, accessible, and richly informative exploration of how languages evolve. Challenging the notion of a “perfect” or “original” language, McWhorter argues that all languages are in a constant state of flux—changing, blending, dying, and being reborn in new forms. He compares language evolution to biological evolution, with dialects branching off and mutating over time, often under the influence of conquest, trade, colonisation, and migration. McWhorter dismantles the myth of linguistic purity, showing that all languages are hybrids, shaped by history and culture as much as by internal logic. He dives into creoles, slang, grammar shifts, and phonetic quirks, often illustrating his points with entertaining anecdotes and comparisons drawn from a wide range of languages. What sets this book apart is its ability to make complex linguistic concepts both understandable and engaging for general readers. McWhorter’s style is lively, conversational, and often humorous, making this an enjoyable read as well as an enlightening one. The Power of Babel is a compelling celebration of linguistic diversity, offering readers a new appreciation for the dynamic, living nature of human language. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Muito interessante *by M***A on 29 December 2019* Análise histórica muito interessante de como as diversas línguas e dialetos se misturam e se transformam ao longo do tempo. Também permite conhecer um pouco de regras gramaticais inusitadas em línguas mais distantes da nossa. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language - Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English - Empires of the Word: A Language History of the World --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/287836510-harper-perennial-the-power-of-babel-a-natural-history-language](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/287836510-harper-perennial-the-power-of-babel-a-natural-history-language) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-11-12*