This is the website of Nicholas Ostler, linguist and author. You are very welcome.

My collected interventions on BBC Radio programmes can be found here.

My aim in setting this up is to provide some background knowledge about me and my books and other writings. Basically, it is here to enable you to follow up on points of interest that you may find in them – increasingly an easy thing to do given so many resources on the Internet.

I begin with the development of my ideas, the life of my mind – as it has appeared to me, living through it.

Then I touch on the books I have written for general readership since 2001.

Next is a page of listings, including my scholarly work in various branches of linguistics since 1977; and more engaging pieces that have appeared in various literary and current-affairs magazines. Many items have links to copies of the work; others will need chasing down in more traditional ways.

Finally, I have a page which is filled with my answers to some frequently asked questions.

If you want to contact me, I can always be reached by email, using my first name "Nicholas" at ostler-dot-net.