Page 6 - 4952

INTRODUCTION

Language defines people as human. In fact, all of

humanity’s greatest cultural accomplishments are either made
out of language or rely on language for their dissemination. In A

History of the English Language, a fascinating discussion of the

origin and development of the English language are led.
The foundation of language and the components of

language are explained in easy-to-understand terms and the

progression of the language from Germanic to Old, Middle, and
Modern English is fully illustrated—including such

revolutionary language upheavals as those brought about by the
Norman Conquest and the Great Vowel Shift.

One of the most interesting aspects of the English language
lies in its variants, such as the place of African-American

English in modern culture. These and other dialectual curiosities

are looked at in detail and placed in the context of today’s
world. Finally, the future of the English language is examined.

4