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From Old English to Standard English

A Course Book in Language Variation Across Time

  • Textbook
  • © 1992

Overview

Authors:
  1. Dennis Freeborn
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Part of the book series: Studies in English Language (SEL)

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
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  2. The English language is brought to Britain

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 1-14

  3. Old English

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 15-42

  4. From Old English to Middle English

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 43-58

  5. Middle English I — Southern and Kentish dialects

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 59-70

  6. Middle English II — Northern dialects

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 71-81

  7. Middle English III — West Midlands dialects

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 82-93

  8. Middle English IV — East Midlands and London dialects

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 94-103

  9. Early Modern English I — the fifteenth century

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 104-116

  10. Early Modern English II — the sixteenth century

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 117-141

  11. Early Modern English III — the seventeenth century

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 142-179

  12. Modern English — the eighteenth century

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 180-195

  13. Postscript — to the present day

    • Dennis Freeborn
    Pages 196-207

  14. Back Matter

    Pages 208-218
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Keywords

About this book

A practical and comprehensive course book which leads the student from the dialects of Old English, through Middle and Early Modern English to the establishment of Standard English in the 18th century, with a postscript on language today. The text includes fascinating and informative illustrative facsimiles of letters, chronicles, diaries and literary extracts, with descriptive analyses and assignments for students. The aim is that students will gain an understanding of language variation and change in vocabulary, meaning, pronunciation, spelling and syntax, set against historical, social and political backgrounds.

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