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Growth and Structure of the English Language
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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January 4, 2025One of my all-time favorites, and (despite a few misbegotten ideas) one of the best surveys of the subject matter. But I was struck revisiting it by how immensely formative it has apparently been for me. The only time I remember reading it cover to cover was over 15 years ago; either that first reading left a massive impression, or there have been forgotten readings (or browsings) in the intervening years—or some combination of both—but so many of the ideas and perspectives from this book are now in my very bones.†
The excellence of the book is that it not only surveys the familiar topics that you can get in any book on the history of English, but does so in a manner that goes deeper "inside" English. All the usual (and of course important) historical events and linguistic developments are there, but Jespersen looks at them with more-than-usual subtlety: he looks at their implications (both for English as a spoken and as a literary language)*, he sees fine distinctions where other authors see sameness. Rather than just providing the basic facts of the history of English, Jespersen gets into all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies and side-angles of that history.
The book is also that rare bird: written for a general, non-specialist audience, but of value both to academics and non-academics. I highly recommend it.
† Not all: e.g., his characterization of English as "masculine" and "adult" because of its brevity: not only because classifying languages as "masculine" or "feminine," "adult" or "childish" is impressionistic (and the use of such terms begs the question), but also because I'm just not so sanguine as he that the gradual reduction and simplification of English over time has been an unqualified positive. I get why Jakob Grimm thought it remarkable that something like Gothic habaida, habaidēdum, habaidēdeiwa, etc. all just wind up simply as had in Modern English!
* An example: bland observations that the vast number of Latin and Greek words incorporated into English has "enriched" the language (because they provide synonyms and allow for fine shades of meaning) are a dime a dozen; Jespersen looks at this and asks "Have they enriched the language?" And his conclusion is yes...and no.
The excellence of the book is that it not only surveys the familiar topics that you can get in any book on the history of English, but does so in a manner that goes deeper "inside" English. All the usual (and of course important) historical events and linguistic developments are there, but Jespersen looks at them with more-than-usual subtlety: he looks at their implications (both for English as a spoken and as a literary language)*, he sees fine distinctions where other authors see sameness. Rather than just providing the basic facts of the history of English, Jespersen gets into all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies and side-angles of that history.
The book is also that rare bird: written for a general, non-specialist audience, but of value both to academics and non-academics. I highly recommend it.
† Not all: e.g., his characterization of English as "masculine" and "adult" because of its brevity: not only because classifying languages as "masculine" or "feminine," "adult" or "childish" is impressionistic (and the use of such terms begs the question), but also because I'm just not so sanguine as he that the gradual reduction and simplification of English over time has been an unqualified positive. I get why Jakob Grimm thought it remarkable that something like Gothic habaida, habaidēdum, habaidēdeiwa, etc. all just wind up simply as had in Modern English!
* An example: bland observations that the vast number of Latin and Greek words incorporated into English has "enriched" the language (because they provide synonyms and allow for fine shades of meaning) are a dime a dozen; Jespersen looks at this and asks "Have they enriched the language?" And his conclusion is yes...and no.
February 11, 2017
A fascinating read - don't give up because of the sexism of the first several pages. Mr. Jespersen is a man of his time, and while I wish he had been more inclusive and less bound up in the mores of the late 19th and early 20th century, I can appreciate the depth of his scholarship.
September 27, 2022
Es un libro que te permite entender la historia del inglés a través de los ojos de un linguísta que vivió hace más de 100 años. Su forma de escribir es bastante didáctica y sirve como buen libro de reflexión sobre cómo es que estudiamos el inglés ahora y cómo se hacía antes.
November 11, 2016
Read for Evolution of English class.
July 25, 2009
superb.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews