
The English Language
A Historical Introduction
Cambridge University Press
3rd Edition
Will be published approx. on 31. December 2025
Book
Hardback
270 pages
978-1-009-22862-6 (ISBN)
Description
A comprehensive yet concise history of the English language, this accessible textbook helps those studying the subject to understand the formation of English. It tells the story of the language from its remote ancestry to the present day, especially the effects of globalisation and the spread of, and subsequent changes to, English. Now in its third edition, it has been substantially revised and updated in light of new research, with an extended chapter on World Englishes, and a completely updated final chapter, which concentrate on changes to English in the twenty-first century. It makes difficult concepts very easy to understand, and the chapters are set out to make the most of the wide range of topics covered, using dozens of familiar texts, including the English of King Alfred, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Addison. It is accompanied by a website with exercises for each chapter, and a range of extra resources.
More details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 1 Maps
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
644 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-22862-6 (9781009228626)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
approx. 12/2025
3rd Edition
Cambridge University Press
€32.90
Not yet published
Persons
Charles Barber es escritor residente en la Wesleyan University, donde imparte clases en la Facultad de Letras, así como profesor de Psiquiatría en la Facultad de Medicina de Yale University. Es autor de tres libros anteriores y ha escrito para The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, Scientific American Mind y Salon. Creció en Middletown, Connecticut (donde se encuentra el Community Health Center, Inc.) y continúa viviendo allí con su esposa y su hijo.
Content
List of figures; List of table; List of maps; Preface; 1. The changing English language?; 2. The prehistory of English; 3. Old English; 4. Middle English; 5. Early modern English; 6. Late modern English; 7. World Englishes; 8. English today and tomorrow; Notes and suggestions for further reading; Bibliography; Index.