Every Word Is a Bird We Teach to Sing

A mind-expanding, deeply humane tour of language by the New York Times–bestselling author of Born on a Blue Day and Thinking in Numbers.

Is vocabulary destiny? Why do clocks “talk” to the Nahua people of Mexico? Will A.I. researchers ever produce true human-machine dialogue? In this mesmerizing collection of essays, Daniel Tammet answers these and many other questions about the intricacy and profound power of language.

In Every Word Is a Bird We Teach to Sing, Tammet goes back in time to London to explore the numeric language of his autistic childhood; in Iceland, he learns why the name Blær became a court case; in Canada, he meets one of the world’s most accomplished lip readers. He chats with chatbots; contrives an “e” —less essay on lipograms; studies the grammar of the telephone; contemplates the significance of disappearing dialects; and corresponds with native Esperanto speakers—in their mother tongue.

A joyous romp through the world of words, letters, stories, and meanings, Every Word Is a Bird We Teach to Sing explores the way communication shapes reality. From the art of translation to the lyricism of sign language, these essays display the stunning range of Tammet’s literary and polyglot talents.

“Tammet’s intriguing cases of linguistic idiosyncrasies expand our notions of what it means to be human.” —Amy Tan, New York Times–bestselling author

“A cerebral jaunt through spoken, printed, championed, and neglected words.” —Christina Ledbetter, Associated Press

“For me the book’s most moving moments are often the most personal: the vignettes of what it’s like to be inside Mr. Tammet’s exceptional head.” —Brad Leithauser, The Wall Street Journal