Textbook
A History of English WordsISBN: 978-0-631-18855-1
Paperback
452 pages
February 2000, ©2000, Wiley-Blackwell
This is a Print-on-Demand title. It will be printed specifically to fill your order. Please allow an additional 10-15 days delivery time. The book is not returnable.
|
"Geoffrey Hughes's book deals authoritatively with the origin
and history of groups of English words from the eighth century to
the end of the twentieth and also with the emergence of the first
English dictionaries and of all the major ones that have been
published since the early seventeenth century. It is packed with
tables displaying the dates of first records, and the
interconnections of all types of vocabulary from the most technical
to the most colloquial. It will be of particular interest to
members of the general public, to students embarking on an
investigation of our language in the UK, the USA and other
English-speaking countries, and to learners of the language
elsewhere in the world." Robert Burchfield, Editor of A
Supplement to the OED, four volumes 1972-86
"This book has many useful things for the language teacher, of
which three stand out: First: it offers insights into our language
- its history, where its words come from and how they evolved.
Second: it provides information on language syllabus topics; for
example, register, word formation and roots. The third thing is
enjoyment. I have read this book straight through twice, and dipped
into various sections of it many times - it is as entertaining as
it is informative. Hughes' writing has the lightness of touch and
imagination that come from long and profound engagement with his
subject. There is vast learning, lightly worn, in this book."
Modern English Teacher
"Socialinguists will find the work a useful departure point for research and teaching, particularly where it deals with areas outside their current expertise, and students and generalists will find it a good read and highly informative throughout." Elizabeth Falsberg, English, University of Washington.