- 422 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
The History of English: An Introduction provides a chronological analysis of the linguistic, social, and cultural development of the English language from before its establishment in Britain around the year 450 to the present. Each chapter represents a new stage in the evolution of the language, all illustrated with a rich and diverse selection of primary texts. The book also explores the wider global course of the language, including a historical review of English in its pidgin and creole varieties and as a native and/or second language in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.
The third edition, carefully revised and updated throughout, includes:
? chapter introductions and conclusions to assist in orientation plus additional marginal references throughout;
? the addition of 21 timelines often running from Old English to Present-Day English and focusing on a variety of features;
? a new focus on the relevance of change for and in Present-Day English;
? discussions on the role and image of women, the (in-)visibility of social classes, and regional variation in English;
? material on bilingualism, code-switching, and borrowing, and on the effects of the social media on language use;
? over 90 textual examples demonstrating linguistic change and over 100 figures, tables, and maps, including 31 colour images, to support and illuminate the text;
? updated online support material including brief introductions to Old and to Middle English, further articles on linguistic, historical, and cultural phenomena which go beyond the scope of the book, additional sample texts, exercises, and audio clips.
With study questions as well as recommendations for further reading and topics for further study, The History of English is essential reading for any student of the English language and will be of relevance to any course addressing the origins and development of the English language.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-Title Page
- Endorsement
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Table of Contents
- List of Illustrations
- List of Texts
- List of Abbreviations
- Preface to the first edition
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the third edition
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Before Britain
- Part II English in Britain
- Plates Images
- Part III Britain and beyond
- Part IV World-wide English
- Glossary
- General bibliography
- Index
- The International Phonetic Alphabet