An Historical Study of English - Function, Form and Change (Hardcover)

Through his analysis of selected major developments in the history of English, Jeremy Smith argues that the history of the language can only be understood from a dynamic perspective. He proposes that internal linguistic mechanisms for language change cannot be meaningfully explained in isolation or without reference to external linguistic factors. The reader is provided with a synthesis of recent developments in English historical linguistics. Other features of the text include: a look at the theory and methodology of linguistic historiography; a consideration of the major changes in writing systems, pronunciation and grammar; examples of these changes, such as the standardization of spellings and accent and the origins of the Great Vowel Shift; and a focus on the origins of two non-standard varieties - 18th century Scots and 20th- century British Black English. This book should be useful reading for students of English Historical linguistics, as well a contribution to the field.