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Reading chapter 12 in Crystal, I was intrigued by his discussion on how extracts from the King James’ version of the Bible have now become common expressions in Modern English. Specifically, it was really interesting to see how specific phrases became integrated into everyday language while others only have a place in biblical texts.
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Geoffrey claimed his authority from an unnamed (and probably mythical) “ancient British book in the British language” given to him by the Archdeacon of Oxford. He never names the author of this book, nor has anything which could plausibly be identified as this alleged book survived written in either Latin or Welsh. Yet it [...]