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A Biography of the English Language
The second edition of A Biography of the English Language continues to examine the structure of language. The textbook discusses three important issues: languages and language change are systematic; the inner history of a language is profoundly affected by its outer history of political and culural events; and the English of the past has everywhere left its traces on prese...more
Hardcover, 464 pages
Published
January 2nd 1996
by Wadsworth Publishing Company
(first published 1988)
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8/26/2011 - I'm treating this as a textbook for my History of the English Language class, and we're officially beginning readings today. :) Whether I like this book or not, it's my constant companion until the end of the semester.
12/1/2011 - Though we did not get to go through the entire book this semester for class, I intend to use it for future reference as I pursue my various degrees. It is informative, but I hardly think that it's as readable as an introductory linguistics book. Several top...more
12/1/2011 - Though we did not get to go through the entire book this semester for class, I intend to use it for future reference as I pursue my various degrees. It is informative, but I hardly think that it's as readable as an introductory linguistics book. Several top...more
A little tedious to read at times, but full of fascinating information nonetheless. (I especially loved the little anecdote about the nickname the French gave the British during the Hundred-Years' War... XD) This book covers Early English, Futhorc, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Present-Day English. I didn't know that we had so many French words in English. o_O
The history of spoken English and what dialect, pidgin and creole mean. It ends with the recipe for Oyster Mush in Gullah, the last of it is "Mus' don' was' oshtuh mush 'long de chillun. Gib' de chillun aig en' hom'ny." (Children won't appreciate oyster mush. Cook eggs and hominy for them.)
Great for people interested in a beginner's book on linguistics.
Language,English
Jul 21, 2007
Amanda
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Word freaks
Shelves:
college,
nonfiction
This is another really great book on language but obviously deals more specificially with English and it's development over time so there's a lot more specific history and details in it. Still really interesting.
everything about english, ever.
Mar 27, 2013
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