Review:
'This second edition ... retains the outstanding features of the first edition – it covers all the topics relevant to a study of the history of English. In addition, the second edition brings with it a new rigour and a fuller and more careful and detailed account of, in particular, spelling and speech sounds, grammar, dialects and standardisation. I congratulate the author on the improvements made in this second edition.' – ‘Sue Powell, University of Salford, UK’
Table of contents:
Contents Using this book Acknowledgements 1. The birth of English 2. Investigating change in English 3. Spellings speech sounds 4. Borrowing Words 5. New words from old 6. Changing meanings 7. Grammar I: nouns 8. Grammar II: verbs 9. Dialects in British English 10. Standardisation 11. World Englishes Appendix 1: reading an OED entry Appendix 2: language family tree Appendix 3: phonetic transcription Appendix 4: a 'mini-corpus' of texts Appendix 5: some answers Appendix 6: internet resources Appendix 7: general reading Index
Whilst maintaining the accessibility for the beginner, the level of this second edition has been raised by the addition of much more detail, a greater focus on theories and controversies, and a clearer route to key works in the field.
‘History of English’:
• examines the history of the English language in order to explain the English that is used today
• introduces key linguistic concepts
• provides 'discussion points' to generate debate
• involves readers in collecting and analysing their own data
• contains a 'mini-corpus' of texts, used for exercises and to illustrate points raised in the commentary.
Revised throughout, this updated edition contains a new Internet resource section and an updated further reading section, to help readers take their study further.
This is a superb introduction to all the key areas of language and linguistics. Written in clear and concise sections this is the essential guide to this core subject.
'This second edition ... retains the outstanding features of the first edition – it covers all the topics relevant to a study of the history of English. In addition, the second edition brings with it a new rigour and a fuller and more careful and detailed account of, in particular, spelling and speech sounds, grammar, dialects and standardisation. I congratulate the author on the improvements made in this second edition.' – ‘Sue Powell, University of Salford, UK’
Table of contents:
Contents Using this book Acknowledgements 1. The birth of English 2. Investigating change in English 3. Spellings speech sounds 4. Borrowing Words 5. New words from old 6. Changing meanings 7. Grammar I: nouns 8. Grammar II: verbs 9. Dialects in British English 10. Standardisation 11. World Englishes Appendix 1: reading an OED entry Appendix 2: language family tree Appendix 3: phonetic transcription Appendix 4: a 'mini-corpus' of texts Appendix 5: some answers Appendix 6: internet resources Appendix 7: general reading Index
Whilst maintaining the accessibility for the beginner, the level of this second edition has been raised by the addition of much more detail, a greater focus on theories and controversies, and a clearer route to key works in the field.
‘History of English’:
• examines the history of the English language in order to explain the English that is used today
• introduces key linguistic concepts
• provides 'discussion points' to generate debate
• involves readers in collecting and analysing their own data
• contains a 'mini-corpus' of texts, used for exercises and to illustrate points raised in the commentary.
Revised throughout, this updated edition contains a new Internet resource section and an updated further reading section, to help readers take their study further.
This is a superb introduction to all the key areas of language and linguistics. Written in clear and concise sections this is the essential guide to this core subject.