BY JOHN MCWHORTER

How many words does it take to make a sentence? Well, it depends on the sentence — and on the language.

In this essay, renowned linguist John McWhorter parses through the concept of language “efficiency.” Some languages are simpler, or more efficient, than others. Some rely heavily on context for their meaning, others on tone, still others on conjugation and word order. Despite its idiosyncrasies (no language exists without them) English is a relatively simple language for mastering the basics.

The English, “I walk, you walk, we walk, he walks, they walk,” is simpler, after all, than the Spanish, “Yo camino, tu caminas, nosotros caminamos, el camina, ellos caminan.” Or, the monosyllabic English word “saw” seems quite efficient compared to the Kabardian sǝq’ayǝƛaaɣwǝaɣhaś (pronounced roughly “suck-a-LAGH-a-HESH”). Conversely, by Indonesian standards, English must seem positively wasteful. In the Riau dialect, something as simple as, “Ayam makan” could mean: Chickens are eating, the chicken will be eating, the chicken eats, the chicken has eaten, someone is eating the chicken, someone is eating with the chicken — the list goes on.

Why do languages differ in their efficiency? The way each language has developed reveals its past. The answer holds a key aspect for understanding the English language, its history, and why it has become the modern lingua franca.

Artist Notes

John McWhorter has done more, perhaps, than anyone else to popularize the study of linguistics in the past decade. He is a foremost authority on the formation of creole languages, has written many articles for major publications, has authored several bestsellers, and hosts the popular Silicon Valley podcast. All the while, he teaches at Columbia University.

No Reply is privileged to be publishing his essay, The Most Efficient Language, in book-form for the first time.

Edition Notes

• The edition is limited to 127 copies and is offered in three states.

• The seventh imprint of No Reply Press, Summer 2020.

• Book measures 5 ¾ by 8 ¾ inches.

• Typeset in Baskerville, designed by John Baskerville.

Hardbound

• Limited to 96 copies, numbered 6 through 101. An overage of Epreuve d’Artiste copies (artist proofs) have been produced, and copies reserved after December 2021 will likely come from these.

• Printed by hand on felt-finished stock using a Vandercook Universal I cylinder press at Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon.

• Hand-bound in midnight blue cloth with paste endpapers handmade specifically for the edition.

• Signed by the publisher, printer, and binder.

De Luxe

• Limited to 26 copies, lettered A through Z.

• Printed by hand on Zerkall mouldmade paper using a Vandercook Universal I cylinder press at Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon.

• Hand-bound in quarter Moroccan leather with unique paste paper, which were handmade specifically for the edition.

• Housed in a handmade cloth slipcase.

• Signed by the publisher, printer, and binder.

“Des Langues”

• Limited to 5 copies, numbered 1 through 5.

• Printed by hand on Zerkall mouldmade paper using a Vandercook Universal I cylinder press at Letterpress PDX in Portland, Oregon.

• Hand-bound in half Moroccan leather using Israeli marbled paper.

• Signed by the publisher, printer, and binder.

• Housed in a midnight blue cloth solander case lined with marbled paper.