Two internationally distinguished English language scholars tell the fascinating, improbable saga of English in time and space. They trace the history of the language from its obscure beginnings over 1500 years ago as a collection of dialects spoken by marauding, illiterate tribes. They show how the geographical spread of the language in its increasing diversity has made English into an international language of unprecedented range and variety. They look at the present state of English as a global language and the problems, pressures and uncertainties of its future. They argue that, in spite of the amazing variety and plurality of English, it remains a single language.
English - One Tongue, Many Voices tells its story with the help of maps, diagrams and pictures. The text is interspersed with panels or 'boxes' focusing on particular topics of interest, and is followed by notes that give the sources of information, as well as detailed references and indexes.
A book for students and their teachers, and for anyone who wants a broad and authoritative introduction to the phenomenon of English worldwide
'If you read only one book on the English language-read this one. English - One Tongue, Many Voices covers all aspects of the English language: its global spread, international and local varieties, history from obscurity to primacy, usage and uses, standards and creoles, style and change in progress, politics and controversy. The scope of the book is vast, its depth impressive, and its balance admirable. Elegantly written, with serious content lightheartedly presented, abundantly illustrated with samples and pictures, informative and entertaining, accessible to all, this is a book by two fine scholars who love the language and know how to convey their enthusiasm to readers. The reader will come away from this book with a deep understanding of the English language and an appreciation of its marvels and mysteries'. - John Algeo, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Georgia, USA
'I am delighted that Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech have put their hands
to this great venture. As experienced collaborators, they bring to the
story of English a rare combination of deep scholarly learning and a flair
for lively writing.' - Randolph Quirk, University College London, UK
'Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech are brilliant story tellers about the
English language. This book will benefit teachers and learners of English
all over the world, giving vivid pictures of where the language came from,
what it is now, and where it will be going.' - Yukio Tono, Meikai University, Japan
Preface
The Working Tongue of the Global Village
PART 1: HISTORY OF AN ISLAND LANGUAGE
The First 500 Years
1066 and All That
Modern English in the Making
PART 2: THE SPREAD OF ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD
English Goes to the New World
English Transplanted
English Varieties in the British Isles
American and British English
From Caribbean English to Creole
PART 3: A CHANGING LANGUAGE IN CHANGING TIMES
The Standard Language Today
Linguistic Change in Progress: Back to the Inner Circle
English into the Future
Pronunciation
Notes: Comments and References
References
Index
JAN SVARTVIK is a most respected Scandinavian scholar of English Language and is now Emeritus Professor at the University of Lund, Sweden. He is co-author of Engelsk universitetsgrammatik (with Olof Sager, 1977) and Handbok i engelska (with Rikard Svartvik, 2001), and author, co-author or editor of some 35 books and 75 papers or articles on varied aspects of English linguistics, contrastive grammar and nautical terminology. He is a Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, The Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities and Academia Europaea.
GEOFFREY LEECH has recently retired as Research Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University, UK. Author, co-author, or co-editor of 25 books and 100 papers or articles on varied aspects of linguistics and the English language, he is a Fellow of the British Academy and a Member of Academia Europaea. He is co-author with Margaret Deuchar and Robert Hoogenraad of English Grammar for Today: A New Introduction (Palgrave Macmillan, 1982, second edition 2005).
Together with Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum, Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech co-authored the 'Quirk grammars' : A Grammar of Contemporary English (1972), and A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, (1985). They are co-authors of Communicative Grammar of English, which went into its third edition in 2002.
Description
Two internationally distinguished English language scholars tell the fascinating, improbable saga of English in time and space. They trace the history of the language from its obscure beginnings over 1500 years ago as a collection of dialects spoken by marauding, illiterate tribes. They show how the geographical spread of the language in its increasing diversity has made English into an international language of unprecedented range and variety. They look at the present state of English as a global language and the problems, pressures and uncertainties of its future. They argue that, in spite of the amazing variety and plurality of English, it remains a single language.
English - One Tongue, Many Voices tells its story with the help of maps, diagrams and pictures. The text is interspersed with panels or 'boxes' focusing on particular topics of interest, and is followed by notes that give the sources of information, as well as detailed references and indexes.
A book for students and their teachers, and for anyone who wants a broad and authoritative introduction to the phenomenon of English worldwide
Reviews
'If you read only one book on the English language-read this one. English - One Tongue, Many Voices covers all aspects of the English language: its global spread, international and local varieties, history from obscurity to primacy, usage and uses, standards and creoles, style and change in progress, politics and controversy. The scope of the book is vast, its depth impressive, and its balance admirable. Elegantly written, with serious content lightheartedly presented, abundantly illustrated with samples and pictures, informative and entertaining, accessible to all, this is a book by two fine scholars who love the language and know how to convey their enthusiasm to readers. The reader will come away from this book with a deep understanding of the English language and an appreciation of its marvels and mysteries'. - John Algeo, Professor Emeritus of English, University of Georgia, USA
'I am delighted that Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech have put their hands
to this great venture. As experienced collaborators, they bring to the
story of English a rare combination of deep scholarly learning and a flair
for lively writing.' - Randolph Quirk, University College London, UK
'Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech are brilliant story tellers about the
English language. This book will benefit teachers and learners of English
all over the world, giving vivid pictures of where the language came from,
what it is now, and where it will be going.' - Yukio Tono, Meikai University, Japan
Contents
Preface
The Working Tongue of the Global Village
PART 1: HISTORY OF AN ISLAND LANGUAGE
The First 500 Years
1066 and All That
Modern English in the Making
PART 2: THE SPREAD OF ENGLISH AROUND THE WORLD
English Goes to the New World
English Transplanted
English Varieties in the British Isles
American and British English
From Caribbean English to Creole
PART 3: A CHANGING LANGUAGE IN CHANGING TIMES
The Standard Language Today
Linguistic Change in Progress: Back to the Inner Circle
English into the Future
Pronunciation
Notes: Comments and References
References
Index
Authors
JAN SVARTVIK is a most respected Scandinavian scholar of English Language and is now Emeritus Professor at the University of Lund, Sweden. He is co-author of Engelsk universitetsgrammatik (with Olof Sager, 1977) and Handbok i engelska (with Rikard Svartvik, 2001), and author, co-author or editor of some 35 books and 75 papers or articles on varied aspects of English linguistics, contrastive grammar and nautical terminology. He is a Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, The Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities and Academia Europaea.
GEOFFREY LEECH has recently retired as Research Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University, UK. Author, co-author, or co-editor of 25 books and 100 papers or articles on varied aspects of linguistics and the English language, he is a Fellow of the British Academy and a Member of Academia Europaea. He is co-author with Margaret Deuchar and Robert Hoogenraad of English Grammar for Today: A New Introduction (Palgrave Macmillan, 1982, second edition 2005).
Together with Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum, Jan Svartvik and Geoffrey Leech co-authored the 'Quirk grammars' : A Grammar of Contemporary English (1972), and A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, (1985). They are co-authors of Communicative Grammar of English, which went into its third edition in 2002.
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