A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English [Hardcover]

Chloe Rhodes (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1606520571 | ISBN-13: 978-1606520574 | Publication Date: March 4, 2010

"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)

Attractively packaged with black and white illustrations, this whimsical yet authoritative book is a great gift for any etymologically fascinated individual. Use this book to reacquaint yourself with the English language, and you'll be compos mentis in no time.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chloe Rhodes is a freelance journalist who has worked for The Telegraph, Guardian and The Times as well as numerous other respected publications. She lives in North London with her husband.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest (March 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606520571
• ISBN-13: 978-1606520574
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Word meanings, March 13, 2010

By 

L. Brandau - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (Hardcover)

There can't be a more American word than "dungarees", right? Actually, according to author Chloe Rhodes, the word dungarees comes from a Hindi word Dungri which is a cotton cloth used for sails and tents in India. This is the type of word information contained in A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi.

Listed alphabetically, the book gives not only the origin of the words we use, but also how they became included in our language. Many of the words we hear regularly, kowtow, alma mater, kudos, and glitch, have their origins in other countries around the world. How appropriate is the origin of the word "paparazzi" which is an Italian word for mosquitoes!

This is an entertaining book filled with information for those with an interest in words and for those who want to use them correctly. This is the most recent book in a series by Reader's Digest.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A sheer delight, April 20, 2010

By 

Holly (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (Hardcover)

A sheer delight. Like many readers, I love words. I love discovering the origins of words and phrases. Here, I discovered that the origin of paparazzi means mosquito. How appropriate is that? Or how we use the term Al Fresco to mean "in the fresh air" but in Italy it's slang for "in prison".

I was familiar with many of these words and phrases, but not how they came into such wide use. This is one of those fun books that you can just pick up on a whim and entertain yourself. It's a fast, easy read if you want to read it in one sitting. But, I see it placed on a shelf or end table for someone to pick up and peruse for an enlightening few minutes.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book for word smiths, June 14, 2010

By 

Mrs. Johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi": The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English (Hardcover)

Quite simply put, this book is essential for word smiths. I received it as a gift and have enjoyed my time reading it, and exercising the little grey cells a la M. Hercule Poirot. I like the mini-history lessons for each word and recommend this book for anyone else who likes reading for enjoyment and wants to delve into a little bit of etymology.