The English Language by Charles Barber

The English Language by Charles Barber

The English Language: A Historical Introduction covers the history of the English language from its prehistoric Indo-European origins to the present day. Assuming no previous knowledge of the subject, Charles Barber describes the nature of language and language change, and presents a history of the English language at different periods, dealing with key topics such as grammar, pronunciation and semantics. Where necessary, he introduces and explains the main theoretical and technical concepts of historical linguistics. There are also chapters on English in the scientific age, English as a world language and the future of the language. Charles Barber uses dozens of familiar texts, including the English of King Alfred, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Addison, to illustrate the state of the English language through time in a range of contexts. This is a fascinating book for anyone with an interest in language.

'… a sound and comprehensive account of the development of English, its place in the world today and its possible future' English Studies
'A clear, readable introduction to language … the layers of vocabulary are dealt with brilliantly …'. Good Book Guide

Charles Barber was educated at Harvard and Columbia and worked for ten years in New York City shelters for the homeless and mentallly ill. The title essay in his first book, Songs from the Black Chair, won a 2006 Pushcart Prize. His work has appeared in The New York Times, among other publications, and on NPR. He is a lecturer in psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine and lives in Connecticut with his family.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521785709
ISBN 10	0521785707
Title	The English Language
Author	Charles Barber
Series	Canto
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2000-05-04
Number of pages	312
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.