History of English: * covers the development of the English language from the 5th century to the present day
    * contains a `mini-corpus' of texts, used for exercises and to illustrate points raised in the commentary
    * introduces key linguistic concepts
    * provides `discussion points' to generate debate
    * involves readers in collecting and analysing their own data

    Chapter 1 The Birth of English: Clues in Placenames; Chapter 2 Investigating Change in English; Chapter 3 Spellings and Speech Sounds; Chapter 4 Borrowing Words; Chapter 5 New Words From Old; Chapter 6 Changing Meanings; Chapter 7 Punctuation; Chapter 8 Grammar I: Nouns; Chapter 9 Grammar II: Verbs; Chapter 10 Dialects in British English; Chapter 11 Standardisation; Chapter 12 World Englishes;

    Biography

    Jonathan Culpeper

    '[...] a very good and practical book. It assumes no prior knowledge of either the history of English, or of linguistic thinking, but after working through its 100-odd pages the diligent student would have a sound grasp of both.' - Professor Malcolm Benson, Language Awareness