
audiobook
by Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman) O'Neill
BY
ELIZABETH O'NEILL, M.A. - AUTHOR OF "THE WORLD'S STORY," "A NURSERY HISTORY OF ENGLAND," ETC.
STORIES THAT WORDS TELL US.
CHAPTER I. - SOME STORIES OF BRITISH HISTORY TOLD FROM ENGLISH WORDS.
CHAPTER II. - HOW WE GOT OUR CHRISTIAN NAMES AND SURNAMES.
CHAPTER III. - STORIES IN THE NAMES OF PLACES.
CHAPTER IV. - NEW NAMES FOR NEW PLACES.
CHAPTER V. - STORIES IN OLD LONDON NAMES.
CHAPTER VI. - WORDS MADE BY GREAT WRITERS.
CHAPTER VII. - WORDS THE BIBLE HAS GIVEN US.
In this lively exploration of language, listeners discover how everyday English words carry hidden histories. The narrator shows that each term—whether ancient or newly coined—acts like a tiny time capsule, revealing the people, cultures, and events that shaped Britain. By tracing the origins of familiar words, the book turns ordinary speech into a fascinating journey through conquest, trade, and everyday life.
The first chapter invites you to listen as the story of the English language unfolds, from its early Celtic roots to the Norse and Norman influences that reshaped it. Simple explanations of linguistic concepts are woven with vivid anecdotes, making the material approachable for both curious adults and younger ears. As the series progresses, each episode peels back another layer, inviting listeners to see history reflected in the words they use every day.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (306K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Thierry Alberto, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Aug 15, 2006
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
b. 1877
A writer and educator with a gift for making history approachable, she created lively books for young readers that turn big world events into clear, memorable stories. Her work blends solid learning with a warm, readable style.
View all books
by Patrick MacGill

by Eva March Tappan

by Sir William Blackstone

by Earl Stanley Harrison

by Mrs. A. T. Thomson

by James Anthony Froude