The History of the English Language

This is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the origins and development of the English language containing illustrative passages from the oldest English to the 20th century.

The passages are contextualized by individual introductions and grouped into the traditional periods of Old English, Early Middle English, Later Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English. To show historical relations, the periods are inter-connected by brief essays, each explaining the major linguistic developments associated with the period. In the new edition, professor Burnley expands the outline of linguistic features at each of the main chronological divisions and includes more selections and illustrations. A new section that illustrates the language of advertising from the 18th century to the present is also included