Where did the word "banana" originate? What is the world's most secret language? Which word is universally understood? This book answers all these questions and more, taking the reader on a journey across the globe to explore the complexity, beauty, and variety of languages. It includes: fun facts and language trivia, beautifully illustrated maps to pore, intricate language family trees that show how different languages have grown and connected over time, eye-catching infographics. --