The English Language
A Historical Introduction
2nd Edition
Published on 26. March 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-521-67001-2 (ISBN)
Description
Where does today's English come from? This new edition of the bestseller by Charles Barber tells the story of the language from its remote ancestry to the present day. In response to demand from readers, a brand new chapter on late modern English has been added for this edition. Using dozens of familiar texts, including the English of King Alfred, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Addison, the book tells you everything you need to know about the English language, where it came from and where it's going to. This edition adds new material on English as a global language and explains the differences between the main varieties of English around the world. Clear explanations of linguistic ideas and terms make it the ideal introduction for students on courses in English language and linguistics, and for all readers fascinated by language.
More details
Series
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
1 Maps
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
380 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-67001-2 (9780521670012)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Charles Barber | Joan Beal | Philip Shaw
The English Language
Book
03/2012
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€28.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2009
2nd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€21.99
Available for download
Previous edition
Book
05/1993
Cambridge University Press
€13.56
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Charles Barber was formerly Reader in English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds. He died in 2000. Joan C. Beal is Professor of English Language in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield. Philip A. Shaw is Lecturer in Old and Middle English in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield.
Content
1. What is language?; 2. The flux of language; 3. The Indo-European languages; 4. The Germanic languages; 5 Old English; 6. Norsemen and Normans; 7. Middle English; 8. Early Modern English; 9. Late Modern English; 10. English as a world language; 11. English today and tomorrow.