Spoken Here
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Half the world's languages are threatened with extinction over the next century, as English and the rest of the world's top twenty languages drive all before them.
Mark Abley Books
Mark Abley is an author who delves into the fascinating world of languages and their transformations. His work explores how spoken and written language evolves in our time, from hip-hop to Singlish, text messaging to Spanglish. Abley's writing is characterized by its ability to reveal the amazing changes in language while also inspiring readers to champion their own language and culture. His approach is both accessible and engaging, making him a notable literary voice.
Strange Bewildering Time
Istanbul to Kathmandu in the Last Year of the Hippie Trail
- 296 pages
- 11 hours of reading
In 1978, a young poet and journalist embarked on a transformative journey along the Hippie Trail, capturing the vibrant culture and unrest of the region. His three-month trek from Turkey to Nepal reveals a world on the brink of change, with vivid experiences such as dancing in Turkish discos and navigating the complexities of Afghan life. Drawing from his youthful journals, he juxtaposes the immediacy of his adventures with the insights of his later reflections, offering a rich historical perspective on a time when many places became inaccessible to travelers.
The Prodigal Tongue
- 272 pages
- 10 hours of reading
Mark Abley takes the reader on a world-wide trip like no other - from Singapore to Japan, Oxford to Los Angeles, through the web and even back in time. As much a travel book as a linguistic study, this book goes beyond grammar and vocabulary;