The Cambridge History of the English Language

This volume spans Middle English, Early Modern English and the early stages of modern language.

Roger Lass (Edited by)

9780521264761, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 January 2000

796 pages, 3 maps
23.6 x 16 x 4.5 cm, 1.236 kg

'… the fullest treatment of the language of the period available in one place to date.' Language

This volume of the Cambridge History of the English Language covers the period 1476–1776, beginning at the time of the establishment of Caxton's first press in England and concluding with the American Declaration of Independence, the notional birth of the first (non-insular) extraterritorial English. It encompasses three centuries which saw immense cultural change over the whole of Europe: the late middle ages, the renaissance, the reformation, the enlightenment, and the beginnings of romanticism. During this time, Middle English became Early Modern English and then developed into the early stages of indisputably 'modern', if somewhat old-fashioned, English. In this book, the distinguished team of six contributors traces these developments, covering orthography and punctuation, phonology and morphology, syntax, lexis and semantics, regional and social variation, and the literary language. The volume also contains a glossary of linguistic terms and an extensive bibliography.

1. Introduction Roger Lass
2. Orthography and punctuation Vivian Salmon
3. Phonology and morphology Roger Lass
4. Syntax Matti Rissanen
5. Lexis and semantics Terttu Nevalainen
6. Regional and social variation Manfred Görlach
7. Literary language Sylvia Adamson
Glossary of linguistic terms
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF]