ISBN: 9780282573713 - The Origin of the Historical Present in English: A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Literature in Candidacy ... (department of English) (classic Reprint) (3 results)

PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000.

PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000.

Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book examines the historical development of the historical present, an unusual grammatical construction seen in languages like English, where the present tense is used to describe past events. The author notes that this usage is relatively uncommon in Old English but becomes more frequent in Middle English, sparking the question of its origin. The author explores various theories proposed by scholars, including the idea that the historical present was borrowed from Old French or that it developed from colloquial speech. Through a thorough examination of Old and Middle English texts, the author aims to uncover the true origins of this grammatical phenomenon and its significance in the evolution of the English language. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item.…