Book: Eish, but is it English?
Author: Rajend Mesthrie, with Jeanne Hromnik
Publisher: Zebra Press
South African English is in a class of its own, generously peppered as it is with the influence of our rich diversity which has brought a completely unique flavour to the Queen’s tongue.
And in Eish, But Is It English? the English language – SA-style – is celebrated for its wit and quirks. Mesthrie explores where universal words among South Africans, like jorl, larney and lekker, and are drawn from and how they became integrated into everyday English, why words like bioscope lingered in SA long after it had died in other parts of the world, and the social implications of language.
It is a fascinating and very entertaining look at language in our context. The book is easy to read, so it will appeal to a broad audience. - The Mercury