{"product_id":"the-babel-message-keith-kahn-harris-9781785788956","title":"The Babel Message","description":"\u003cp\u003eKeith Kahn-Harris is a man obsessed with something seemingly trivial - the warning message found inside Kinder Surprise eggs:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWARNING, read and keep: Toy not suitable for children under 3 years. Small parts might be swallowed or inhaled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn a tiny sheet of paper, this message is translated into dozens of languages - the world boiled down to a multilingual essence. Inspired by this, the author asks: what makes 'a language'? With the help of the international community of language geeks, he shows us what the message looks like in Ancient Sumerian, Zulu, Cornish, Klingon - and many more. Along the way he considers why Hungarian writing looks angry, how to make up your own language, and the meaning of the heavy metal umlaut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOverturning the Babel myth, he argues that the messy diversity of language shouldn't be a source of conflict, but of collective wonder. This is a book about hope, a love letter to language.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This is a wonderful book. A treasure trove of mind-expanding insights into language and humanity encased in a deliciously quirky, quixotic quest. I loved it. Warning: this will keep you reading.' - Ann Morgan, author of Reading the World: Confessions of a Literary Explorer\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Keith Kahn-Harris","offers":[{"title":"Fair","offer_id":46392003592435,"sku":"8880002609386","price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0634\/4284\/5939\/files\/9781785788956.jpg?v=1730919994","url":"https:\/\/www.harryhartog.com.au\/products\/the-babel-message-keith-kahn-harris-9781785788956","provider":"Harry Hartog Bookseller","version":"1.0","type":"link"}