English Historical Linguistics: Approaches and Perspectives

Hardback

Main Details

Title English Historical Linguistics: Approaches and Perspectives
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Laurel J. Brinton
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:432
Dimensions(mm): Height 254,Width 180
Category/GenreSociolinguistics
Historical and comparative linguistics
English language teaching
ISBN/Barcode 9781107113640
ClassificationsDewey:417.7
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Illustrations 6 Halftones, color; 1 Halftones, black and white; 3 Line drawings, color; 28 Line drawings, black and white

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 6 July 2017
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Written by an international team of leading scholars, this engaging textbook on the study of English historical linguistics is uniquely organized in terms of theoretical approaches and perspectives. Each chapter features textboxes, case studies, suggestions for further reading and exercises, enabling students to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and guiding them on undertaking further research. The case studies and exercises guide students in approaching and manipulating empirical data, providing them with hands-on experience of conducting linguistic research. An extensive variety of approaches, from traditional to contemporary, is treated, including generative approaches, historical sociolinguistic and pragmatic approaches, psycholinguistic perspectives, grammaticalization theory, and discourse-based approaches, as well as perspectives on standardization and language variation. Each chapter applies the concepts discussed to data from the history of English, and a glossary of key terms enables easy navigation and quick cross-referencing. An essential resource for advanced undergraduate and graduate students of the history of English linguistics.

Author Biography

Laurel J. Brinton is Professor of English Language at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. She is the co-author and co-editor or many volumes, including textbooks on the history of English and the structure of modern English. She was co-editor of the Journal of Historical Pragmatics and is currenly co-editor of English Language and Linguistics.

Reviews

'The book identifies and addresses the typical shortcomings of an English historical linguistics textbook: the insufficient awareness of and coverage of the ['bird's-eye view'] of the discipline.' Matylda Wlodarczyk, Pragmatics.Reviews