The Future of Language: The Book of the Lectures: The Routledge David Crystal Lectures - Softcover

Crystal, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415550610 ISBN 13: 9780415550611

Publisher: Routledge, 2009

Synopsis

For the first time, The Future of Language brings together three of Professor David Crystal’s most popular lectures on the future of language. One of the world’s foremost experts on language and English language, and arguably the most accessible and entertaining writer and lecturer in this area, Crystal delivers these informative and highly enjoyable performance lectures exploring key contemporary language issues: 'The Future of Englishes', 'Language Death' and 'Internet Linguistics'.

This accompanying book supplements the DVD with Crystal’s comprehensive commentary on the lectures. A short overview of the main themes discussed across the three lectures is followed by sections devoted to each of the three lectures. Each sections provides a more detailed introduction to the lecture topic, a synopsis of all the main points covered and a cultural usage commentary explaining and analysing points of interest, along with further reading and activities for the classroom that enable students to begin engaging with language straight away.

An index for both the DVD and the book is provided so users can search for topics of interest easily. Timecodes are also included so users can easily pinpoint the commentary items. The book concludes with Crystal's reflections on how the three interrelated topics covered will continue to interact and contribute to the evolution of language.

This is an ideal resource for all university and A-level English Language and Linguistics departments and will be of interest to anyone involved in the study of language, especially those involved with teaching or learning English as a second language.

About this title

About the Author

David Crystal received an OBE for services to the English language in 1995, and was made a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 2000. He is patron of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) and the Association for Language Learning (ALL). Having published over 100 books, covering a diversity of language topics, his most recent publications include Txting: The Gr8 Db8 (2008) and Think on my Words: Exploring Shakespeare’s Language (2008). He has been a freelance writer, lecturer, and broadcaster since 1984 and continues his work with language from his home in Holyhead, North Wales.

Review

'These three lectures are all fascinating, and brilliantly delivered. In fact, the biggest problem with this disk is that there are only three; I found myself wanting more. These lectures bristle with jumping-off points for discussion and thinking about practically any linguistic, historical, or social issue.' - John Lawler, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

'David Crystal's performance lectures are to linguistics as the Beatles are to rock -an entertaining mix of classic and innovation, a delight to watch and listen to.' - Susan Gayle Strauss, Penn State University

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0415550610
• ISBN 13: 9780415550611
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1