Full Description
A History of the English Language explores the linguistic and cultural development of English from the Roman conquest of England to the present day to provide a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of its history. This best-selling classic textbook encourages the reader to develop both an understanding of present-day English and an enlightened attitude toward the issues affecting the language today.
Fully revised and updated, the new edition includes the latest developments in the field and offers:
an updated coverage of corpus linguistics and the development of syntax
current debates about pronouns, technology and the internet
revised discussions on dialects in the UK and US
expanded coverage of Global Englishes and a fuller discussion of language contact
newly organized and updated chapter bibliographies.
Balanced and wide-ranging, this textbook is a must-read for any student studying the history of the English language.
Contents
Preface 1. English Present and Future 2. The Indo-European Family of Languages 3. Old English 4. Foreign Influences on Old English 5. The Norman Conquest and the Subjection of English, 1066-1200 6. The Reestablishment of English, 1200-1500 7. Middle English 8. The Renaissance, 1500-1650 9. The Appeal to Authority, 1650-1800 10. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 11. The English Language in America 12. The Twenty-First Century Appendix A: Specimens of the Middle English Dialects Appendix B: English Spelling Index
