The Story of English

Fülszöveg

"RARELY HAS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BEEN SCANNED SO BRIGHTLY AND BROADLY IN A SINGLE VOLUME."
—SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
The Story of English, a brilliant history of the evolution of the English language, takes you on a series of absorbing journeys across a vast expanse of time, space, and terrain—from Anglo-Saxon Britain to Reagan's America. In lively, anecdotal, and informative chapters, the authors show how English moved from the villages of Britain to the New World; how it was carried in slave ships from Africa to America's South; how it was scattered with the soldiers and servants of the British Empire to Australia, Canada, India, and the Far East.
Today, English is the language of international commerce, diplomacy, religion, and the popular arts. The Story of English is a fascinating, provocative survey of the varieties and idiosyncrasies of what has truly become the first global language.
"The study of the language will never be the same again after the publication of this... Tovább

Fülszöveg

"RARELY HAS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BEEN SCANNED SO BRIGHTLY AND BROADLY IN A SINGLE VOLUME."
—SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
The Story of English, a brilliant history of the evolution of the English language, takes you on a series of absorbing journeys across a vast expanse of time, space, and terrain—from Anglo-Saxon Britain to Reagan's America. In lively, anecdotal, and informative chapters, the authors show how English moved from the villages of Britain to the New World; how it was carried in slave ships from Africa to America's South; how it was scattered with the soldiers and servants of the British Empire to Australia, Canada, India, and the Far East.
Today, English is the language of international commerce, diplomacy, religion, and the popular arts. The Story of English is a fascinating, provocative survey of the varieties and idiosyncrasies of what has truly become the first global language.
"The study of the language will never be the same again after the publication of this book. It travels at the speed of a bullet train to every corner of the globe where English is spoken. It also authentically describes the mysterious power of older dazzling forms of the language in past centuries." —Robert Burchfield, Editor in Chief, the Oxford Dictionaries
"Highly enjoyable .A first-rate introduction to one of the most fascinating of subjects"
—The New York Times
"Exceptionally wide-ranging and comprehensive; one of the best overviews that anyone could have. It provides a wealth of information about our language with an excellent balance of its historical aspects and present use around the world."
—Stuart B. Flexner, Editor, The Random House Dictionary
Companion to "The Story of English" television series produced by MacNeil-Lehrer Productions and the BBC in association with WNET-Channel 13, New York. The series was principally funded through a grant from General Foods.
Cover design by Melissa Jacoby Cover art courtesy (clockwise from upper left) Mansell Collection; St. John's College, Cambridge; National Portrait Gallery, London; British Museum; Rex Features Vissza