Explores the origins and evolution of the French language, from the first extant document written in French in the mid-ninth century and the purging of Latin from the French courts to the obsession of French speakers to protect the purity of the language.
Provides a fascinating history of the origins and evolution of the French language, from the first extant document written in French in the mid-ninth century and the purging of Latin from the French courts to the obsession of French speakers to preserve and protect the purity of the language and its role as the pre-eminent language of literature, science, and diplomacy. Reprint. 25,000 first printing.
