A peculiar journey around the world through the acquaintance with the 20 dominant languages. Why did tiny Portugal give birth to a global language, while the also colonial Netherlands did not? Why do women in Japan speak differently from men and what does it mean that Russian "relates" to English? How do writing systems without an alphabet, like those of India and China, do the same job as the 26 letters of the English alphabet? Combining linguistics and cultural history, Gaston Dorren invites us on an enjoyable tour of the world of the 20 languages with the most speakers. With humor and lively narration, he delves deep into their idiosyncrasies, simultaneously debunking common misconceptions. He traces their origins and, in some cases, their bloody path, decrypts complex writing systems, while presenting the gems and gaps in their vocabulary. A journey that reveals not only the reasons for their dominance but above all their richness and diversity. Each one a whole world.