Items related to The State of the Language
Synopsis
"Sprawling, uncoordinated, uneven, noisy, and appealing," wrote one reviewer of the first edition of this book, published on 1 January 1980. "The language is in rude health," wrote another. Exactly a decade later, here is the book anew, with the same editors but with fifty fresh contributors writing essays and poems that engage our language today. Imaginative attention is bestowed on the changes of recent years, changes not only in the language but in how language is understood. In the forefront are the relations between British English, American English, and those other Englishes with which they compete or cooperate. The nervous negotiations of gender and feminism. The darkness of AIDS. The bright flicker of the computer. The old smolderings of "standard English" and correctness. The "bad language" that has lately done so well in our society. How all this has been politicized--or is it rather that its inevitably political nature has only now been recognized? Here these and many other facets of the language catch the various light. What has changed is understood in relation to what has not changed, and what has been gained in relation to what has been lost. There is sweep as well as detail, telescope as well as microscope, in this contemplation of the world of our language as it enters the world of the 1990s. The State of the Language has been prepared in cooperation with the English-Speaking Union of San Francisco
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Christopher Ricks is a critic and scholar of Milton, Keats, Tennyson, and T. S. Eliot, and teaches at Boston University.Leonard Michaels is a novelist and short story writer, and teaches at the University of California, Berkeley.
From Library Journal
After the 1980 edition comes this all-new compendium by 62 authors from scholarly (Sandra Gilbert, Hugh Kenner, Walter Ong), literary (Kingsley Amis, Ted Hughes, Allison Lurie, Amy Tan), popular (M.F.K. Fisher), and journalistic (Robert MacNeil) backgrounds. Leaning more towards scholarly and literary analyses, these articles discuss the different Englishes; the languages of politics, money, and art; current practices; and opinions about correct usage. More serious and intellectual than William Safire's and Edwin Newman's books on language, this book nevertheless will fascinate anyone interested in our language. Highly recommended.
- Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City,
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherUNIV OF CA PRESS+
- Publication date1979
- ISBN 10 0520044002
- ISBN 13 9780520044005
- BindingPaperback
- Rating
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Published by
University of California Press, 1979
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
Softcover
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Seller Inventory # Q06B-01046
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Published by
University of California Press, 1979
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
Softcover
Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included. Seller Inventory # S12O-01202
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Published by
University of California Press, 1979
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 609887-6
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Published by
University of California Press, 1979
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
Softcover
Seller: Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 38732686-20
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Seller: HPB-Emerald, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_402219851
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Seller: HPB Inc., Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!. Seller Inventory # S_403691488
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Seller: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. Seller Inventory # mon0003526832
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Published by
University of California Press, Berkeley, California, U.S.A., 1980
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
Soft cover
First Edition
Seller: Montreal Books, Westmount, QC, Canada
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Soft cover. Condition: Near Fine. Second Printing. A beautiful copy in once read condition. Text clean, spine strong. [Montreal Books Rating System: 1. Fine; 2. Near Fine; 3. Very Good; 4. Good; 5. Fair.]. Seller Inventory # 016901
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
State of the Language
Published by
University Of California Press, Califronia, 1980
ISBN 10: 0520044002
ISBN 13: 9780520044005
Used
paperback
Seller: JARE Inc. dba Miles Books, Highland, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
paperback. Condition: Very Good. First edition thus. Book is clean an tight. Seller Inventory # WG11sh036
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
The State of the Language
Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 10-0520044002-G
Quantity: 1 available