English Language: The Basics by Seargeant, Philip;

Short description:

This lively and engaging book traces English’s remarkable journey from a from a small, local language to the global resource it is today.

Long description:

This lively and engaging book traces English’s remarkable journey from a from a small, local language to the global resource it is today.

The book follows the story of English from its earliest origins through its growth and expansion over the last 1,500 years to the part it plays in twenty-first century society. Along the way, the book explores the language’s complex ties to cultural identity, literature and politics. It tracks its evolving relationship with technology – from the invention of the printing press to the rise of artificial intelligence – and explains how it became the global lingua franca across almost every field of international activity.

Concise, clear and informative, the book offers an ideal introduction for anyone curious about the English language: how it developed, how it is used today, and what role it will likely play in the future of global communication.

Philip Seargeant does a terrific job in English Language: The Basics, making complex ideas clear, using fascinating current and historical examples of language in use and attitudes to language. This is a really excellent, must-have book for A Level students, their teachers and the general reader too!

Barbara Bleiman, Education consultant at the English and Media Centre and Co-editor of emagazine

Table of Contents:

Illustrations

Chapter 1: Language

Chapter 2: Old

Chapter 3: Middle

Chapter 4: Standard

Chapter 5: Global

Chapter 6: Identity & Politics

Chapter 7: Technology

Further Reading

Notes

Index