The English Language (Opus Books) - Hardcover

Burchfield, R.W.

3.74

62 ratings by Goodreads

9780192191731: The English Language (Opus Books)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019219173X ISBN 13: 9780192191731

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1985

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The English language, in its earliest period, was spoken by a few thousand people, most of whom were illiterate. Today, more than 300 million people speak and write English as their first language. In this book, Robert Burchfield takes us on a brief tour of our ever-changing language as he surveys its history and development and assesses its current state. An eloquent guide, Burchfield examines the complexities of English, as well as its amazing resilience and flexibility. From vocabulary, syntax, and pronunciation, to an analysis of the role of literature and the English Bible in shaping the language, Burchfield infuses all his discussions with his fascination with the mystery of language and his confidence that English "can be used at the present time as in the past, with majesty and power, free of all fault."

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Product Description:

Contents are arranged as follows: List of Illustrations. Abbreviations. Phonetic symbols. Some Preliminary Considerations. From Runes to Printing. From William Caxton to George Washington: 1476 to 1776. The Disjunctive Period: 1776 to the Present Day. Literature, Ritualistic Works, and Language. The Recording of English in Dictionaries and Grammars. Vocabulary. Pronunciation and Spelling. The Syntactical Arrangement of Words. Disbursed Forms of English. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

Review:

"An expert, absorbing guide to the English-speaking world's biggest asset."--Sunday Times (London) "An expert, absorbing guide to the English-speaking world's biggest asset."--Sunday Times (London) "An expert, absorbing guide to the English-speaking world's biggest asset."--Sunday Times (London) "An expert, absorbing guide to the English-speaking world's biggest asset."--Sunday Times (London)

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