Includes bibliographical references and index

English present and future -- Indo-European family of languages -- Old English -- Foreign Influences on old English -- Norman conquest and the subjection of English, 1066-1200 -- Reestablishment of English, 1200-1500 -- Middle English -- Renaissance, 1500-1650 -- Appeal to authority, 1650-1800 -- Nineteenth century and after -- English language in America -- Appendices: A. Specimens of the Middle English dialects; B. English spelling

"Comprehensive and balanced, this classic exploration of the history of the English language combines internal linguistic history and external cultural history from the Middle Ages to the present. Emphasis is on the political, social and cultural forces that affect language. [This text]: includes English Present and Future; Provides a new section on Gender Issues and Linguistic Change in Chapter 10; Includes a thorough revision of Chapter 11. [It also] includes updated material on African American Vernacular English. Discusses Black English and varieties of English in Africa and Asia, as well as varieties in the United States, Australia, and Canada."-Back cover

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