Naomi S. Baron is Professor of Linguistics and Chair of the Department of Language and Foreign Studies at American University. She is the author of five previous books about language, including Growing Up With Language: How children learn to talk (Addison-Wesley, 1992).

'At one level, Alphabet to Email is a fascinating chronological history of written English; at another, it is a carefully argued case for preserving the distinctions between oral and written language.' - Ilana Snyder, Journal of Sociolinguistics'Thorough, yet not in the least pedantic, Baron's book examines the cultural, political, religious and technological influences on written language as compared with spoken language.' - - Publishers' Weekly'Naomi Baron as succeeded in writing a fascinating yet erudite, and quite compact, history that draws together threads from a bewildering variety of sources.' - Pam Le Gassick, Society of Indexers

• Preface 1.Robin Hood's Retort 2.Legitimating Written English 3.Who Writes, Who Reads, and Why 4.Setting Standards 5.The Rise of English Comp 6.Commas and Canaries 7.What Remington Thought 8.Language at a Distance 9.Why the Jury's Still Out on Email 10.Epilogue: Destiny or Choice Notes Bibliography Index

Naomi S. Baron is Professor of Linguistics and Chair of the Department of Language and Foreign Studies at American University. She is the author of five previous books about language, including Growing Up With Language: How children learn to talk (Addison-Wesley, 1992).

'At one level, Alphabet to Email is a fascinating chronological history of written English; at another, it is a carefully argued case for preserving the distinctions between oral and written language.' - Ilana Snyder, Journal of Sociolinguistics'Thorough, yet not in the least pedantic, Baron's book examines the cultural, political, religious and technological influences on written language as compared with spoken language.' - - Publishers' Weekly'Naomi Baron as succeeded in writing a fascinating yet erudite, and quite compact, history that draws together threads from a bewildering variety of sources.' - Pam Le Gassick, Society of Indexers

• Preface 1.Robin Hood's Retort 2.Legitimating Written English 3.Who Writes, Who Reads, and Why 4.Setting Standards 5.The Rise of English Comp 6.Commas and Canaries 7.What Remington Thought 8.Language at a Distance 9.Why the Jury's Still Out on Email 10.Epilogue: Destiny or Choice Notes Bibliography Index

Naomi S. Baron is Professor of Linguistics and Chair of the Department of Language and Foreign Studies at American University. She is the author of five previous books about language, including Growing Up With Language: How children learn to talk (Addison-Wesley, 1992).

'At one level, Alphabet to Email is a fascinating chronological history of written English; at another, it is a carefully argued case for preserving the distinctions between oral and written language.' - Ilana Snyder, Journal of Sociolinguistics'Thorough, yet not in the least pedantic, Baron's book examines the cultural, political, religious and technological influences on written language as compared with spoken language.' - - Publishers' Weekly'Naomi Baron as succeeded in writing a fascinating yet erudite, and quite compact, history that draws together threads from a bewildering variety of sources.' - Pam Le Gassick, Society of Indexers

• Preface 1.Robin Hood's Retort 2.Legitimating Written English 3.Who Writes, Who Reads, and Why 4.Setting Standards 5.The Rise of English Comp 6.Commas and Canaries 7.What Remington Thought 8.Language at a Distance 9.Why the Jury's Still Out on Email 10.Epilogue: Destiny or Choice Notes Bibliography Index