The English Language: A Linguistic History - Softcover

Brinton, Laurel J.; Arnovick, Leslie K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199019150 ISBN 13: 9780199019151

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2017

Synopsis

The English Language: A Linguistic History surveys the development of the English language from its Indo-European past to the present day. It covers the entire history of the English language beginning with its prehistoric origins in Proto-Indo-European and includes thorough coverage of its four major periods: Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English.

The third edition features enhanced discussion of the socio-historical and cultural contexts of the English language in the new "Language in Context" features in each chapter. Brief timelines of historical events also now appear at the beginning of relevant chapters, supplementing the comprehensive timeline (linguistic, literary, historical, and social) found in the appendices. Discussion of new approaches to the history of English, such as historical pragmatics and historical sociolinguistics, have been added or expanded along with new debates, such as the current work on the Proto-Indo-Europeans or the status of English as a global language or second language. A new appendix includes an anthology of specimen texts from the four major periods of English, chosen for their use of colloquial and non-literary language.

About this title

About the Author:

Laurel J. Brinton, Professor, Department of English, University of British Columbia,Leslie K. Arnovick, Professor, Department of English, University of British Columbia

Review:

"The English Language is particularly good at the phonological history of the language from IE forward. . . . [it] covers very well the history of morphological and syntactic change in English. . . . The amount of detail in formal description on the IE and General Germanic periods is very
satisfying, and I don't know of any parallel in alternative textbooks. At the other end of the timeline, the amount of detail and the accuracy in the treatment of Canadian varieties of English is also very satisfying, and, again, I don't know of any parallel in alternative textbooks."
--Michael Cummings, York University

"Brinton and Arnovick is based on sound and up-to-date linguistic scholarship, frequently cited directly in the text, which inspires confidence. . . . Very readable and engaging."
--Murray McGillivray, University of Calgary

From previous editions:
"The book is well-organized and clear . . . without assuming a lot of knowledge on the part of students."
--Richard J. Moll, University of Western Ontario

"Brinton and Arnovick's book is, I think, the best textbook in its field."
--John Considine, University of Alberta

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0199019150
• ISBN 13: 9780199019151
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 640