This is a huge subject and one that is almost bound to provoke question-marks and explosions in the margins—soon forgotten in the book’s sheer sweep and scale. A balance between straight history and word history is sometimes difficult to strike, though. There is a feeling, occasionally, of being bundled too fast through complex linguistic developments and usages, or of being given interesting slices of history for the sake, after all, of not much more than a “gong” or a “moccasin”. But it is churlish to carp. The author’s zest and grasp are wonderful. He makes you want to check out everything—“carp” and “zest” included. Whatever is hybrid, fluid and unpoliced about English delights him.
请大家帮我翻译一下斜线部分,谢谢 |