Edinburgh Textbooks on the English Language – serie

This book looks at native speaker varieties of English, considering how and why they differ in terms of their pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and spelling. It shows how the major national varieties of English have developed, why similar causes have given rise to different effects in different parts of the world, and how the same problems of description arise in relation to all ‘colonial’ Englishes.It covers varieties of English spoken in Britain, the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the Falkland Islands.* Introductory text, presupposes a minimum of previous knowledge* Focuses on common traits rather than on individual varieties* Informed by latest research on dialect mixing* Exercises included with each chapter* References for further reading in each chapter

An Introduction to Middle English is designed to provide undergraduate students of English historical linguistics with a concise description of the language during the period 1100-1500. Middle English, the language of Chaucer, is discussed in relation to both earlier and later stages in the history of English, and in relation to other languages with which it came into contact. Features:* the historical and geographical contexts of Middle English* the evidence for Middle English* the principal features of Middle English spelling, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary* an introduction to Middle English textual studies* selected Middle English texts, both literary and non-literary* notes, glossaries and annotated bibliographies* questions for reviewMost other introductory books on Middle English focus on literary rather than linguistic matters; this book is designed to redress the balance, by providing students of English language with an up-to-date, authoritative survey which takes account of recent trends in historical linguistics.

An introduction to Early Modern English, this book helps students of English and linguistics to place the language of the period 1500-1700 in its historical context as a language with a common core but also as one which varies across time, regionally and socially, and according to register. The volume focuses on the structure of what contemporaries called the General Dialect - its spelling, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation - and on its dialectal origins. The book also discusses the language situation and linguistic anxieties in England at a time when Latin exerted a strong influence on the rising standard language. The volume includes:*The major changes in English from the 15th to the 18th century*Emphasis on long-term linguistic developments*Sources for the study of Early Modern English*Illustrations ranging from drama and personal letters to trials and early science*Exercises encouraging further exploration of the changing English language.

An introduction to Early Modern English, this book helps students of English and linguistics to place the language of the period 1500-1700 in its historical context as a language with a common core but also as one which varies across time, regionally and socially, and according to register. The volume focuses on the structure of what contemporaries called the General Dialect - its spelling, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation - and on its dialectal origins. The book also discusses the language situation and linguistic anxieties in England at a time when Latin exerted a strong influence on the rising standard language. The volume includes:*The major changes in English from the 15th to the 18th century*Emphasis on long-term linguistic developments*Sources for the study of Early Modern English*Illustrations ranging from drama and personal letters to trials and early science*Exercises encouraging further exploration of the changing English language.

Are the dialects of England disappearing in the wake of globalisation and ‘Estuary English’, or are geographical differences as strong as ever? Joan Beal looks at recent research into regional variation in England, discusses the evidence for ‘dialect levelling’ and argues that, despite this, features of dialect are still clear markers of regional and local identity. Chapters outlining the main regional differences in accent, dialect grammar and dialect vocabulary are followed by discussions of research into geographical diffusion, levelling, issues of identity and stereotypes. Each chapter is accompanied by either an exercise based on data provided, a data-gathering exercise using methodological tools provided, or an extract from a media article provided to provoke discussion. The book also includes a guide to resources available for the study of regional dialects in England.Features:* An up-to-date account of research into regional variation in England* A practical, ‘hands on’ approach, providing the reader with the methods and resources to carry out research projects* Includes exercises for use in class.

Designed for beginning undergraduates studying for degrees in English, this textbook provides an introduction to a range of sociolinguistic theories and the insights they provide for a greater understanding of varieties of English, past and present. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative approaches to sociolinguistic variation, the book provides a systematic overview such topics as:*'English' as a social and as a linguistic concept*English speech communities*Social and regional dialectology in relation to varieties of English*English historical sociolinguistics, from Old English to late Modern English*Sociolinguistics and change in English*Outcomes of contact involving varieties of English*English and language planning*English, sociolinguistics and linguistic theory.The book contains data drawn from studies of English as it is used around the world. Throughout, there is an emphasis on facilitating a deeper understanding of linguistic variation in English and the social, political and cultural contexts in which speakers and writers of English operate.

Some twenty years ago it was widely believed that nothing much happened to the English language since the beginning of the eighteenth century. Recent research has shown that this is far from true, and this book offers an introduction to a period that forms the tail end of the standardisation process (codification and prescription), during which important social changes such as the Industrial Revolution are reflected in the language. Late Modern English is currently receiving a lot of scholarly attention, mainly as a result of new developments in sociohistorical linguistics and corpus linguistics. By drawing on such research the present book offers a much fuller account of the language of the period than was previously possible. It is designed for students and beginning scholars interested in Late Modern English.The volume includes:*a basis in recent research by which sociolinguistic models are applied to earlier stages of the language (1700-1900)*a focus on people as speakers (wherever possible) and writers of English*research questions aimed at acquiring skills at working with important electronic research tools such as Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), the Oxford English Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*reference to electronically available texts and databases such as Martha Ballard's Diary, the Proceedings of the Old Bailey and Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.

Some twenty years ago it was widely believed that nothing much happened to the English language since the beginning of the eighteenth century. Recent research has shown that this is far from true, and this book offers an introduction to a period that forms the tail end of the standardisation process (codification and prescription), during which important social changes such as the Industrial Revolution are reflected in the language. Late Modern English is currently receiving a lot of scholarly attention, mainly as a result of new developments in sociohistorical linguistics and corpus linguistics. By drawing on such research the present book offers a much fuller account of the language of the period than was previously possible. It is designed for students and beginning scholars interested in Late Modern English.The volume includes:*a basis in recent research by which sociolinguistic models are applied to earlier stages of the language (1700-1900)*a focus on people as speakers (wherever possible) and writers of English*research questions aimed at acquiring skills at working with important electronic research tools such as Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), the Oxford English Dictionary and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*reference to electronically available texts and databases such as Martha Ballard's Diary, the Proceedings of the Old Bailey and Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.

REVIEW FROM PREVIOUS EDITION: 'A slim and useful student textbook for English Syntax. Although most of the examples are from English, the book introduces general concepts which provide the necessary tools for a basic syntactic analysis of any language. The book concentrates on topics that will remain useful to the student who does not go on to study linguistics but, say, literature or EFL teaching.' - The Year's Work in English StudiesIn this revised and fully updated new edition of his popular textbook, Jim Miller discusses the central concepts of syntax which are applied in a wide range of university courses, in business communication, in teaching and in speech therapy. The book deals with concepts which are central to traditional grammar but have been greatly refined over the past forty years: parts of speech and how to recognise them, constructions and their interrelationships, subordinate clauses and how to recognise the different types, subjects and objects, Agents and Patients and other roles. The book draws out the connections between syntax and meaning and between syntax and discourse; in particular, a new chapter focuses on the analysis of discourse and the final chapter deals with tense, aspect and voice, topics which are central to the construction of texts and are of major importance in second language learning. They are also areas where meaning and grammar interconnect very closely.Key features:*Coverage of central themes with a wide application outside the study of syntax*Explains basic concepts, supported by a glossary of technical terms*Exercises and sources for further reading provided.

An accessible overview of the first centuries in the history of the English languageCombining a wide variety of short texts with a coherent and up-to-date assessment of the forms of language which remain as the foundation of English today, this introduction offers a unique study of Old English in context. It is designed for students unfamiliar with the earliest stages of the English language and provides a basis for further study of the history of the language to the present day. All the basic elements of Old English are covered, including nouns, adjectives, verbs, syntax, word order, vocabulary and sound values. Wherever possible comparisons are drawn between Old English and the present-day language, but also with other related languages such as Dutch, German and French. There are also chapters introducing Old English poetry and dialect variation, as well as a chapter looking at what happened to the language after the Norman Conquest. Key Features* Up-to-date account of the linguistics of the Old English period with particular stress on syntax and vocabulary * Integrates accounts of the language with selected texts graded to improve accessibility for the beginner* Strong emphasis on the relation between Old English and present-day English together with relevant features in related languages* Contains exercises, a glossary of key terms and an Old English glossaryKEYWORDS: Old English, history of English, grammar, strong verb, weak verb, morphology

A classic introduction to the study of meaning, revitalised for a new generation of linguistsIdeal for undergraduate students exploring English linguistics for the first time, the new edition of this successful textbook is compact and self-contained, offering:Expanded coverage of topic areas such as figurative language, compositional meaning and quantificationUp-to-date, real-life examples drawn from a wide range of sources to clearly illustrate key concepts, such as how speakers use novel metaphors and metonymsAdditional exercises to further reinforce and develop key conceptsThorough signposting to contemporary research publications in semantics and pragmaticsThis clear and accessible textbook introduces the crucial concepts essential to your study of the semantics and pragmatics of English. Coverage is wide-ranging, taking you from word meaning to the level of discourse, and explaining how these topics are treated in contemporary linguistic research. Chapters cover adjective, noun and verb meanings, situation types, figurative language, tense, aspect, modality, quantification, topic and focus. Explanations of entailment, compositionality and scope provide a foundation for subsequent study of formal semantics.Supported by chapter summaries and with plenty of usage examples, exercises and discussion questions, you will not only gain a systematic overview of meaning in English but be equipped with the tools to argue for specific analyses as well.

A classic introduction to the study of meaning, revitalised for a new generation of linguistsIdeal for undergraduate students exploring English linguistics for the first time, the new edition of this successful textbook is compact and self-contained, offering:Expanded coverage of topic areas such as figurative language, compositional meaning and quantificationUp-to-date, real-life examples drawn from a wide range of sources to clearly illustrate key concepts, such as how speakers use novel metaphors and metonymsAdditional exercises to further reinforce and develop key conceptsThorough signposting to contemporary research publications in semantics and pragmaticsThis clear and accessible textbook introduces the crucial concepts essential to your study of the semantics and pragmatics of English. Coverage is wide-ranging, taking you from word meaning to the level of discourse, and explaining how these topics are treated in contemporary linguistic research. Chapters cover adjective, noun and verb meanings, situation types, figurative language, tense, aspect, modality, quantification, topic and focus. Explanations of entailment, compositionality and scope provide a foundation for subsequent study of formal semantics.Supported by chapter summaries and with plenty of usage examples, exercises and discussion questions, you will not only gain a systematic overview of meaning in English but be equipped with the tools to argue for specific analyses as well.

In the third edition of this bestselling introductory textbook, Richard Ogden presents the concepts, terminology and representations needed for understanding how English is pronounced globally. He guides you through the vocal tract, explains clearly how the sounds of speech are made, and introduces phonetic transcription and acoustic analysis. This textbook uses naturally-occurring conversational speech throughout so you can get to know the details of everyday talk (and not just the careful pronunciations presented in dictionaries.) Written in a user-friendly style with plenty of examples, this textbook is a great starting point for your first university course on English phonetics.

In the third edition of this bestselling introductory textbook, Richard Ogden presents the concepts, terminology and representations needed for understanding how English is pronounced globally. He guides you through the vocal tract, explains clearly how the sounds of speech are made, and introduces phonetic transcription and acoustic analysis. This textbook uses naturally-occurring conversational speech throughout so you can get to know the details of everyday talk (and not just the careful pronunciations presented in dictionaries.) Written in a user-friendly style with plenty of examples, this textbook is a great starting point for your first university course on English phonetics.

This textbook introduces orthographic theory (sometimes referred to as grapholinguistics). If you are taking courses in English language and linguistics, and particularly those studying the English writing system, this book will provide you with an accessible and engaging entry point into this fascinating topic. Each chapter discusses the English writing system with reference to key linguistic areas like phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicography, semantics and pragmatics.You will be introduced to basic working definitions of writing systems theory, including orthography, spelling, punctuation, capitalisation and the differences between spelling and orthography and between writing system and script. The book also discusses digital communication, emojis, register-specificity in writing and the social aspects of spelling, and embraces design elements such as alignment, page layout and abbreviations, as well as aspects of visualisation such as calligraphy – all of which have not always been regarded as constitutive components of English writing in the past.

This textbook introduces orthographic theory (sometimes referred to as grapholinguistics). If you are taking courses in English language and linguistics, and particularly those studying the English writing system, this book will provide you with an accessible and engaging entry point into this fascinating topic. Each chapter discusses the English writing system with reference to key linguistic areas like phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicography, semantics and pragmatics.You will be introduced to basic working definitions of writing systems theory, including orthography, spelling, punctuation, capitalisation and the differences between spelling and orthography and between writing system and script. The book also discusses digital communication, emojis, register-specificity in writing and the social aspects of spelling, and embraces design elements such as alignment, page layout and abbreviations, as well as aspects of visualisation such as calligraphy – all of which have not always been regarded as constitutive components of English writing in the past.

Bestselling introduction to English morphology, now revised and updatedWhat exactly are words? Are they the things that get listed in dictionaries, or are they the basic units of sentence structure? Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy explores the implications of these different approaches to words in English. He explains the various ways in which words are related to one another, and shows how the history of the English language has affected word structure.Topics include: words, sentences and dictionaries; a word and its parts (roots and affixes); a word and its forms (inflection); a word and its relatives (derivation); compound words; word structure; productivity; and the historical sources of English word formation.Requiring no prior linguistic training, this textbook is suitable for undergraduate students of English - literature or language - and provides a sound basis for further linguistic study.The second edition featuresupdated exercises throughout, with answers and discussionfully updated recommendations for further readingrefreshed examples and referencesa completely new introduction and glossary

Bestselling introduction to English morphology, now revised and updatedWhat exactly are words? Are they the things that get listed in dictionaries, or are they the basic units of sentence structure? Andrew Carstairs-McCarthy explores the implications of these different approaches to words in English. He explains the various ways in which words are related to one another, and shows how the history of the English language has affected word structure.Topics include: words, sentences and dictionaries; a word and its parts (roots and affixes); a word and its forms (inflection); a word and its relatives (derivation); compound words; word structure; productivity; and the historical sources of English word formation.Requiring no prior linguistic training, this textbook is suitable for undergraduate students of English - literature or language - and provides a sound basis for further linguistic study.The second edition featuresupdated exercises throughout, with answers and discussionfully updated recommendations for further readingrefreshed examples and referencesa completely new introduction and glossary

This textbook introduces the main units and concepts you require to describe speech sounds accurately. By working through the book and the various exercises included, you will come to understand the need for a dedicated system of description and transcription for speech sounds, and for a degree of phonological abstraction to support our understanding of the behaviour of sounds in particular languages and varieties. You will learn to carry out elementary, broad phonetic transcription, and be able to establish contrastive vowel and consonant systems for your own varieties and to express simple generalisations reflecting the productive and predictable patterns of English sounds. At the end of the book there is a section guiding you through some of the exercises and there is also a detailed glossary which will be useful for assignments or revision during exams.

This textbook introduces the main units and concepts you require to describe speech sounds accurately. By working through the book and the various exercises included, you will come to understand the need for a dedicated system of description and transcription for speech sounds, and for a degree of phonological abstraction to support our understanding of the behaviour of sounds in particular languages and varieties. You will learn to carry out elementary, broad phonetic transcription, and be able to establish contrastive vowel and consonant systems for your own varieties and to express simple generalisations reflecting the productive and predictable patterns of English sounds. At the end of the book there is a section guiding you through some of the exercises and there is also a detailed glossary which will be useful for assignments or revision during exams.

Lexicology is about words, their meanings and the relationships between them, their origins and their structure. It combines the study of derivational morphology with lexical semantics. This textbook explores the history, meanings and structure of words, the way they are collected in dictionaries and the way they are stored in our minds. It goes beyond examining the morphological structure of words to examine the way words are spelt and the way they sound. At every stage, the book focuses not only on description, but also on the puzzles that words present. Supported by numerous examples, exercises, discussion questions, suggestions for further reading and a glossary, this is an accessible and lively guide to the linguistic study of English through the consideration of words.