Overview

A comprehensive yet concise history of the English language, this accessible textbook helps those studying the subject to understand the formation of English. It tells the story of the language from its remote ancestry to the present day, especially the effects of globalisation and the spread of, and subsequent changes to, English. Now in its third edition, it has been substantially revised and updated in light of new research, with an extended chapter on World Englishes, and a completely updated final chapter, which concentrate on changes to English in the twenty-first century. It makes difficult concepts very easy to understand, and the chapters are set out to make the most of the wide range of topics covered, using dozens of familiar texts, including the English of King Alfred, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Addison. It is accompanied by a website with exercises for each chapter, and a range of extra resources.

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9781009228602

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Reviews

'Barber's The English Language has for many years and in various editions been an absolutely invaluable reference-point for students, acclaimed by teachers for its unrivalled clarity and the authority of its content. However, since the last edition the subject has not stood still; developments in the availability of analytic tools, in pedagogy, and in social attitudes mean a fresh edition is now required. Joan Beal and Philip Shaw are to be heartily congratulated on this sensitive yet thorough update, harnessing and interrogating the very latest research in English historical linguistics.' Jeremy J. Smith, Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emeritus, University of Glasgow 'This book is a masterfully updated third edition of a must-read cornerstone on the history of English. In clear and engaging terms, it describes how the sounds, structure, and meanings of English have evolved and how its sphere of usage has expanded across time, geographical areas, and various speech-communities in the British Isles and around the world. Importantly, it draws attention to recent changes in social attitudes to the colonial past of the language and accounts for current research into the history of English.' Merja Kytö, Professor Emerita, Uppsala University

Author Information

Charles Barber was formerly Reader in English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds. He died in 2000. Joan C. Beal is Emeritus Professor of English Language at the University of Sheffield. Her publications include English Pronunciation in the Eighteenth Century (1999), English in Modern Times 1700-1945 (2004), An Introduction to Regional Englishes (2010). She is the editor of The New Cambridge History of the English Language, Volume 3 (2025). Philip A. Shaw is Assistant Professor in Medieval Literary Studies at the University of Durham. His recent publications include Names and Naming in Beowulf (2020).

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