Dick Leith – författare

Changing English examines the history of English from its origins in the fifth century to the present day. It focuses on the radical changes that have taken place in the structure of English over a millennium and a half, detailing the influences of migration, colonialism and many other historical, social and cultural phenomena. Expert authors illustrate and analyze dialects, accents and the shifting styles of individual speakers as they respond to changing circumstances. The reader is introduced to many key debates relating to the English language, illustrated by specific examples of data in context.

Including key material retained from the earlier bestselling book, English: History, Diversity and Change, this edition has been thoroughly reorganized and updated with entirely new material. Changing English:

Changing English makes an essential contribution to the field of English language studies.

Changing English examines the history of English from its origins in the fifth century to the present day. It focuses on the radical changes that have taken place in the structure of English over a millennium and a half, detailing the influences of migration, colonialism and many other historical, social and cultural phenomena. Expert authors illustrate and analyze dialects, accents and the shifting styles of individual speakers as they respond to changing circumstances. The reader is introduced to many key debates relating to the English language, illustrated by specific examples of data in context.

Including key material retained from the earlier bestselling book, English: History, Diversity and Change, this edition has been thoroughly reorganized and updated with entirely new material. Changing English:

Changing English makes an essential contribution to the field of English language studies.

A Social History of English is the first history of the English language to utilize the techniques, insights and concerns of sociolinguistics. Written in a non-technical way, it takes into account standardization, pidginization, bi- and multilingualism, the issues of language maintenance and language loyalty, and linguistic variation.This new edition has been fully revised. Additions include: * new material about ''New Englishes'' across the world* a new chapter entitled ''A Critical Linguistic History of English Texts''* a discussion of problems involved in writing a history of EnglishAll terms and concepts are explained as they are introduced, and linguistic examples are chosen for their accessibility and intelligibility to the general reader.It will be of interest to students of Sociolinguistics, English Language, History and Cultural Studies.