The second edition of the book first published in 1986, an introduction to child language. A summary and critique of david crystals english as a. The stories of english by david crystal 608pp allen lane. Other books have been written on the subject, but they. No catches, no fine print just unadulterated book loving, with your favourite books saved to your own digital bookshelf. The future of englishes, language death, and internet linguistics. Crystals enthusiasm forand wealth of knowledge aboutthe everevolving english language makes this a mustread for word lovers. David crystal s website this bio was last updated on 06012017. The story of english in 100 words david crystal macmillan. Whatever their regional, social, or ethnic background, each group has a story worth telling. In this entertaining history of the worlds most ubiquitous language, david crystal draws on one hundred words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively english word roe was written down on. English is arguably the nearest thing we have to a world language, and yet it is a language with a wealth of varieties, dialects, and traditions, all developing in.
His family moved to liverpool in 1951, and he received his secondary schooling at st marys college. Crystal begins english as a global language by asking what it means for a language to be global, and what the advantages and disadvantages of. Many books have been written about english, but they have all focused on a single variety. David crystal, world authority on the english language, presents a lively and factual account of the rise of english as a global language and ex plores the whys and wherefores of. A summary and critique of david crystals english as a global. Sep 09, 2004 the stories of english is a groundbreaking history of the language by david crystal, the worldrenowned writer and commentator on english. Its the most simple, unassuming, innocentlooking verb.
Throughout this massive and learned and often provocative tome, the author demonstrates repeatedly that common conceptions about language are often historically inaccuratesplit infinitives bothered no one until recently. These historical kingdoms have left their mark on the regional dialects and accents of england and the us. Buy the stories of english by david crystal from waterstones today. Hilary crystals technofantasy novels,the memors and the mirrinth, are also now available as an e book and as printondemand through the crystal books project. David crystal is an independent scholar with lifelong experience as a lecturer, public speaker, and broadcaster. A host of fascinating questions are answered in the stories of english, a groundbreaking history of the language by david crystal, the worldrenowned writer and commentator on english.
Crystal also touches on the coining of new words when the mood strikes, citing famous examples in shakespeare and joyce as well as the crop of technologyinspired neologisms. One approach is to discuss themes and trends within major periods of development, as author david crystal has done in other volumes. Crystal studied english at university college london between 1959 and 1962, and was a researcher under randolph quirk between 1962 and 1963, working on the survey of english usage. In three chapters he then traces the rise of english to that status. The story of english in 100 words by david crystal. Linguist david crystal on shakespeare, downton abbey and babel magazine duration. An honorary professor of linguistics at the university of bangor, he lives in holyhead, u.
In this concise and clear account, crystal making sense. The stories of english is a history of the language by david crystal. Crystal turns the history of the language on its head and provides a startlingly original view of where the richness, creativity, and. A host of fascinating questions are answered in the stories of english a groundbreaking history of the language by david crystal, the worldrenowned writer and commentator on english. The stories of english by david crystal waterstones. An accompanying book provides a usage and cultural commentary on the lectures, suggestions for further reading, and ideas for classroom activities. The cambridge encyclopedia of language a broad survey aimed at a popular audience english as a global language its use, history, and culture language and the internet a linguist on netspeak. David works from his home in holyhead, north wales, as a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster. The english language is now accepted as the global lingua fr.
David crystal is honorary professor of linguistics at the university of wales, bangor. Hilary crystals technofantasy novels,the memors and the mirrinth, are also now available as an ebook and as printondemand through the crystal books project. May 05, 2005 buy the stories of english by crystal, david isbn. This is what makes this book a great read for the reader who has little background in the study of language and who wants a. Colorful, fastpaced and wellwritten, this is a wellresearched and educational book that is never for a moment dry or boring.
David crystal a little book of language not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language benjamin zephaniah david crystal is one of the worlds preeminent language specialists. Yet it is jampacked with more different meanings, forms, and uses than any other english word. The singular history of english spelling, both published by profile. Crystal begins english as a global language by asking what it means for a language to be global, and what the advantages and disadvantages of having a global language are. All of these, crystal believes, are equally valid and deserving of respect. In the stories of english, david crystal demonstrates, through his display of knowledge and his fluctuation between academic and casual tones, that the study of language and its history can be very interesting and alive. The first surveys the extent of its use around the world and briefly outlines the history of its spread. A 2019 revision by david crystal and derek davy of the book first published in 1976.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. The stories of english is a groundbreaking history of the language by david crystal, the worldrenowned writer and commentator on english. The story of english in 100 words by david crystal, paperback. David crystal a little book of language of language. Born in lisburn, northern ireland in 1941, he spent his early years in holyhead. In 1995, he was awarded the order of the british empire for. David crystal, world authority on the english language, presents a lively and factual account of the rise of english as a global language and ex plores the whys and wherefores of the history, current status and future. In this entertaining history of the worlds most ubiquitous language, david crystal draws on one hundred words that best illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively english word roe was written down on the femur of a roe deer in the fifth century. He is the editor of thepenguin encyclopediaand thenew penguin factfinder. David crystal is honorary professor of linguistics at the university of bangor. Many books have been written about english, but they have all focused on a single variety the educated, printed language called standard english. The stories of english david crystal, honorary professor. He is the author of the story of english in 100 words and spell it out.
David crystal describes how the ancient kingdoms of wessex, mercia, east anglia, northumberland and kent each contributed to what we know as standard english. Other books have been written on the subject, but they focused on the educated, printed language called standard english. May 20, 2011 in english as a global language, david crystal gives a history of english as a developing, and farreaching, language in our world. The stories of english kindle edition by crystal, david. Becoming a member of the lovereading community is free. Published in 2009, this dvd contains three of david crystals onehour lectures. He explains the growing dominance of the english language gracefully, without straying too far from the realm of facts into the nomansland of opinions. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. David crystal turns the history of english on its head and instead provides a startlingly original view of where the richness, creativity and diversity of the language truly liesin the accents and dialects of nonstandard english users all over the world. This is what makes this book a great read for the reader who has little background in the study of language and who wants a comprehensive overview of the history of english.
Retired from fulltime academia, he works as a writer, editor and. Whatever their regional, social or ethnic background, each group has a story worth telling, whether it is in scotland or somerset, south africa or singapore. Crystal june 2830, 2011 languages are no discrete units, they vary continuously more or less not only with time but also with location. While dutch and german are admittedly two very distinct languages, with their own lexica, grammars and orthographies, this is due to prescriptive. The location of the towns and counties of england referred to in this book a history of the english language draws on the diversity of dialects and regional accents around the world, as well as the dialects that appear in a variety of literary classics, to explain. The stories of english is a 2004 book by british linguist david crystal. The stories of english by david crystal librarything. We try to keep bookbrowses biographies both up to date and accurate, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of its a tough task. In 1995, he was awarded the order of the british empire for services to the english language. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the stories of english. See all books authored by david crystal, including the cambridge encyclopedia of language, and the cambridge encyclopedia of the english language, and more on.
The stories of english by crystal, david, 1941publication date 2004 topics. He has published over 90 books and was awarded the obe for services to the english language in 1995. English as a global language cambridge university press. The stories of english by david crystal, paperback. Books about the history of the english language come in two main varieties. He tells the intriguing story in 26 chapters, each linked to a particular usage. Refundreturns policy because of the custom nature of our printing and product fulfilment process, we cannot accept returns or offer refunds for printondemand books or ebooks once. The stories of english by david crystal, paperback barnes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He is the editor of the penguin encyclopedia and the new penguin factfinder. He is the author of making a point, the story of english in 100 words and spell it out. The story of be david crystal oxford university press. When and why did thou disappear from standard english.
Writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster, he is the author of over 100 books including the bestselling the stories of english. As he reveals bes multiple incarnations, david crystal takes us to the heart of our flexible and changing language. Crystal turns the history of english on its head and provides an original view of where the richness, creativity, and diversity of the language truly lies in the accents and dialects of nonstandard english users all over the world. Would a victorian cockney have said observation or hobservation. David crystal quotes author of the story of english in 100. Since then he has lectured at bangor university and the university of reading and is an honorary professor of linguistics at bangor. Apr 21, 2014 linguist david crystal on shakespeare, downton abbey and babel magazine duration.
Buy a cheap copy of the cambridge encyclopedia of the. His many books range from clinical linguistics to the liturgy and shakespeare. David crystal is the foremost expert on english, and honorary professor of linguistics at the university of wales, bangor. People are voting with their fingers david crystal. Crystal says that the best users of english are those who have a capacious closet full of linguistic clothing to wear. David crystal ebooks epub and pdf downloads ebookmall.
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