A History of the English Language

by Albert C. Baugh, Thomas Cable

Overview

A History of the English Language explores the linguistic and cultural development of English from the Roman conquest of England to the present day to provide a comprehensive overview of the different aspects of its history. This best-selling classic textbook encourages the reader to develop both an understanding of present-day English and an enlightened attitude toward the issues affecting the language today.

Fully revised and updated, the new edition includes the latest developments in the field and offers:

- An updated coverage of corpus linguistics and the development of syntax

- Current debates about pronouns, technology and the internet

- Revised discussions on dialects in the UK and US

- Expanded coverage of Global Englishes and a fuller discussion of language contact

- Newly organised and updated chapter bibliographies

Balanced and wide-ranging, this textbook is a must-read for any student studying the history of the English language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781040642108
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/27/2026
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	482

About the Author

Albert C. Baugh was Schelling Memorial Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.

Thomas Cable is the Jane Weinert Blumberg Chair Emeritus in English at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.

Table of Contents

Preface 1. English Present and Future 2. The Indo-European Family of Languages 3. Old English 4. Foreign Influences on Old English 5. The Norman Conquest and the Subjection of English, 1066–1200 6. The Reestablishment of English, 1200–1500 7. Middle English 8. The Renaissance, 1500–1650 9. The Appeal to Authority, 1650–1800 10. The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries 11. The English Language in America 12. The Twenty-first Century Appendix A: Specimens of the Middle English Dialects Appendix B: English Spelling Index