Microsoft Word - Jaffarian_languages.doc


Review 
The Languages of the World 

Kenneth Katzner 
 Third edition. Routledge: London, UK, 1977/2002 

 
Reviewed by Michael Jaffarian 

Coordinator of Research for CBInternational, Richmond, Virginia 
 

Published in Global Missiology, Review & Preview, October 2004, www.globalmissiology.net 
 
 
After 21 brief essays on the language families of the world, this book gives a series of 
one- to two-page entries on 200+ different languages. Each of these entries includes: (1) a 
passage, poem, or paragraph from this language, in its distinctive script, often something 
from the great literature of the language, (2) an English translation of that, and (3) a few 
paragraphs about this language, various interesting stuff, and where it fits into the world 
geographically, historically, or linguistically. Part III is a country-by-country survey, with 
a few sentences about the main language or languages of each, or their linguistic makeup. 
 
Delightful and fascinating. Not nearly as detailed, nor as definitive as the Ethnologue, or 
the language section of the World Christian Encyclopedia, but much more accessible. 
Also very interesting, and fun. Even a casual browsing gives the reader perspective on the 
linguistic diversity of humanity, good for the development of World Christian 
understanding.