This is a collection of contributed essays on the social history of the English language. It will be the second volume in the Oxford Studies in Sociolinguistics series, edited by Edward Finegan. Linguists are increasingly aware that external social contact can be as significant as internal grammatical structure in instigating and determining the direction of changes within a language's syntax, phonology, and lexicon. Despite this fact, however, existing textbooks on the history of English give scant attention to this sociolinguistic perspective. The present work is designed to serve as a much needed supplement to such texts. The essays in the volume, written by recognized authorities in their fields, address each of the traditional periods of English. Topics covered include: the social status and uses of English, the relations between English and co-existent languages, the relations between varieties of spoken and written language, language as a political and socio-economic instrument, and attitudes towards varieties of English. The book should attract supplementary use in courses in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics as well as in the history of the English language.
Industry Reviews
"This collection of essays provides a different perspective on the history of English by correlating language and society and focusing on the socio-cultural framework of the diachronic development of the language. It is a valuable set of readings for the student of diachronic linguistics."--Edgar C. Pulome, University of Texas
"This lively set of papers provides a valuable counterbalance to the traditional emphasis on the written standard in works on the history of English....It offers a varied feast of methodological approaches and theoretical attitudes that mirrors the feast of language varieties and attitudes toward them that are its subject...It is richly informative and thoroughly enjoyable."--Elizabeth C. Traugott, Stanford University
"Traditional histories of English have presented the language as a system that lives in austere secession from social reality, rearranging itself in response to purely internal pressures. English in its Social Contexts puts the language back in the mouths of its speakers, reminding us that the history of the language is also the social history of the English-speaking world, shaped against a continuing background of diversity."--Geoffrey Nunberg,
Stanford University
"The Williams, Carver, and Kachru chapters are the most useful for my undergraduates."--Daniel O. Mosser, VPI & SU
"The selection of articles is an excellent set of case studies on historical sociolinguistics and historical standardization processes of English."--Otto Santa Ana A., University of New Mexico
"This volume brings a breadth of approach rarely encountered in the formal study of language to bear on diverse and absorbing topics in the history of English. It will undoubtedly be welcomed by those interested in language and culture."--Language
"This collection of essays provides a different perspective on the history of English by correlating language and society and focusing on the socio-cultural framework of the diachronic development of the language. It is a valuable set of readings for the student of diachronic linguistics."--Edgar C. Pulome, University of Texas
"This lively set of papers provides a valuable counterbalance to the traditional emphasis on the written standard in works on the history of English....It offers a varied feast of methodological approaches and theoretical attitudes that mirrors the feast of language varieties and attitudes toward them that are its subject...It is richly informative and thoroughly enjoyable."--Elizabeth C. Traugott, Stanford University
"Traditional histories of English have presented the language as a system that lives in austere secession from social reality, rearranging itself in response to purely internal pressures. English in its Social Contexts puts the language back in the mouths of its speakers, reminding us that the history of the language is also the social history of the English-speaking world, shaped against a continuing background of diversity."--Geoffrey Nunberg,
Stanford University
"The Williams, Carver, and Kachru chapters are the most useful for my undergraduates."--Daniel O. Mosser, VPI & SU
"The selection of articles is an excellent set of case studies on historical sociolinguistics and historical standardization processes of English."--Otto Santa Ana A., University of New Mexico
"This volume brings a breadth of approach rarely encountered in the formal study of language to bear on diverse and absorbing topics in the history of English. It will undoubtedly be welcomed by those interested in language and culture."--Language
