Introduction to the History of English

Description

This book is written for students of English who are interested in the history of the language and would like to read an accessible but also comprehensive and reasonably detailed introduction. Apart from basic information about language change and the Indo-European background of English, it gives an outline of the major periods of the language (Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English and Late Modern English), with a brief examination of the perspectives of present-day English. Each period chapter provides information about the socio-historical background, the core areas of linguistic structure, discourse, speech acts and genres, and concludes with study questions and exercises. Cover Preface Table of Contents 1. Language change and language history Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 2. Tracing the origins of English Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 3. English ca. 450 to ca. 1100 (Old English) 3.1. Political and socio-cultural background 3.2. Language structure 3.2.1.Spelling and pronunciation 3.2.2. Morphology and word-formation 3.2.3. Syntax 3.2.4. Lexis and semantics 3.2.5. Regional and social distribution 3.3. Language use 3.3.1.Discourse and speech acts 3.3.2. Genres Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 4. English ca. 1100 to ca. 1500 (Middle English) 4.1. Political and socio-cultural background 4.2. Language structure 4.2.1.Spelling and pronunciation 4.2.2. Morphology and word-formation 4.2.3. Syntax 4.2.4. Lexis and semantics 4.2.5. Regional and social distribution 4.3. Language use 4.3.1.Discourse and speech acts 4.3.2. Genres Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 5. English ca. 1500 to ca. 1700 (Early Modern English) 5.1. Political and socio-cultural background 5.2. Language structure 5.2.1.Spelling and pronunciation 5.2.2. Morphology and word-formation 5.2.3. Syntax 5.2.4. Lexis and semantics 5.2.5. Regional and social distribution 5.3. Language use 5.3.1.Discourse and speech acts 5.3.2. Genres Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 6. English after 1700 (Late Modern English) 6.1. Political and socio-cultural background 6.2. Language structure 6.2.1.Spelling and pronunciation 6.2.2. Morphology and word-formation 6.2.3. Syntax 6.2.4. Lexis and semantics 6.2.5. Regional and social distribution 6.3. Language use 6.3.1.Discourse and speech acts 6.3.2. Genres Summary Further reading Questions and exercises 7. Perspectives on present-day English Summary Further reading Questions and exercises List of References Electronic Sources References