The History of English

The History of English: An Introduction provides a chronological analysis of the linguistic, social, and cultural development of the English language from before its establishment in Britain around the year 450 to the present. Each chapter represents a new stage in the evolution of the language, all illustrated with a rich and diverse selection of primary texts. The book also explores the wider global course of the language, including a historical review of English in its pidgin and creole varieties and as a native and/or second language in the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The third edition, carefully revised and updated throughout, includes: ? chapter introductions and conclusions to assist in orientation plus additional marginal references throughout; ? the addition of 21 timelines often running from Old English to Present-Day English and focusing on a variety of features; ? a new focus on the relevance of change for and in Present-Day English; ? discussions on the role