‘Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages’

Explore the world (of language) from the comfort of your home! In his brilliant new book, Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages, Gaston Dorren will take you on a rich, intercultural journey delving into the most widely spoken languages in the world. 

You might think of each chapter as taking a stroll through a different neighborhood—each one brimming over with the unique flavors, and sounds, of the cultures that inhabit that particular area. 

Get ready to become acquainted with Javanese (16th on the list), Swahili (12th), and Bengali (6th), as well as their 95 million, 135 million, and 275 million speakers (respectively). You will, of course, find some of the “typical” international behemoths like Arabic (5th), Spanish (3rd), and Mandarin (2nd). But regardless of which ones you are already familiar with (or at least have heard of before!), I guarantee you will learn something new—and probably have a jolly time in the process.

This book, dare I say, is a miniature gold mine of linguistic treasures.  

In each chapter, Dorren gives his readers a taste of the sociocultural and historical backdrops for each language that he explores. You’ll peel back different layers of the language: some of its quirky characteristics, the quirky communities (or nations) that speak it, and insightful (and otherwise quirky) contextual pieces that help fill in the linguistic puzzle that each language comprises.

Babel is accessible, conversational, and entertaining. Compared to other language-centered books I’ve read, this may very well be the most easily “digestible” one that I’ve come across. 

Dorren chooses his words with a keen sense for how much linguistic terminology is appropriate for the occasion. To put it another way: He isn’t heavy-handed with the jargon, and his diction is “as precise as it needs to be.” I think Babel could serve, to some extent, as a mild primer of linguistics terms—one of the perks that come from flipping through these pages and getting acquainted with the history and culture(s) and people(s) that accompany each language.

I found the chapter on Persian (15th) to be especially delightful, and witty, as it fills you in on a few millennia of Middle Eastern exploits in less than 20 pages. The sections on Tamil (18th) and Punjabi (14th) can provide an enlightening lens to Western readers especially in light of the historical trajectories that bring each of those tongues alive, both in their own way. Then there’s the “Concise Dictionary” of Arabic terms that have wound their way into the English language (fascinating!). 

The last that I’ll mention here—Hindi-Urdu (4th, with 550 million speakers)—was possibly my favorite chapter. In a quick and objective jaunt through history (again, less than 20 pages), Dorren convinced me that “Hindi” and “Urdu” (which I know a few phrases in) are actually the same language and would be better classified as “mere dialects” of each other. 

In all, Babel: Around the World in Twenty Languages is a good read. It should be on the bookshelf of any globally minded individual. And may I suggest that if you're more of a “cultural homebody,” then it should be on your shelf all the more!

You can find a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Babel-Around-World-Twenty-Languages/dp/0802147801/

Also, check out this episode of “The Theology Box” when host William Carroll and I talked about Babel (and many other exciting topics): https://open.spotify.com/episode/2z7g4gGnirTi7AXMABAUJ6?si=hjOj06gjTYKLaBcVq0uy9Q