David Crystal

Con una lengua desapareciendo cada dos semanas y neologismos apareciendo casi a diario, una explicación sobre los orígenes y estado actual del lenguaje nunca ha sido tan oportuna. En este espléndido volumen, escrito en especial para jovenes lectores, el versado linguista David Crystal demuestra por que la historia del lenguaje merece volver a ser contada. El pequeño libro del lenguaje revela innumerables singularidades y complejidades del lenguaje y explica de forma amena como los niños empiezan a hablar, el desarrollo de los peculiares dialectos que utilizamos al escribir mensajes de WhatsApp o el origen de extraños acentos. Asimismo, trata el problema de las lenguas minoritarias y algunos casos exitosos de revitalizacion linguistica. Mucho mas que una historia, este libro mira hacia el futuro del lenguaje y en el Crystal explora como la tecnologia esta afectando a nuestra forma de leer, escribir y hablar. Con tablas, diagramas y pruebas, El pequeño libro del lenguaje es un atractivo relato para todas las edades.

David Crystal's classic English as a Global Language considers the history, present status and future of the English language, focusing on its role as the leading international language. English has been deemed the most 'successful' language ever, with 1500 million speakers internationally, presenting a difficult task to those who wish to investigate it in its entirety. However, Crystal explores the subject in a measured but engaging way, always backing up observations with facts and figures. Written in a detailed and fascinating manner, this is a book written by an expert both for specialists in the subject and for general readers interested in the English language.

Rarely has a book so packed with accurate and well researched factual information been so widely read and popularly acclaimed. This Second Edition of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language has been fully revised for a new generation of language-lovers. The book is longer and includes extensive new material on world English and Internet English, in addition to completely updated statistics, further reading suggestions and other references.First Edition Hb (1995): 0-521-40179-8First Edition Pb (1997): 0-521-59655-6David Crystal is a leading authority on language, and author of many books, including most recently Shakespeare''s Words (Penguin, 2002), Language and the Internet (Cambridge, 2001) and Language Death (Cambridge, 2000). An internationally renowned writer, journal editor, lecturer and broadcaster, he received an Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his services to the English language.

Offers an eye-opening tour of the English language through the ages. In this history of the world's ubiquitous language, this title draws on words that illustrate the huge variety of sources, influences and events that have helped to shape our vernacular since the first definitively English word was written down in the fifth century.

This new, thoroughly revised edition of the acclaimed Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language incorporates the major developments in language study which have taken place since the mid 1990s. Two main new areas have been added: the rise of electronic communication in all its current forms from email to texting, and the crisis affecting the world's languages, of which half are thought to be so seriously endangered that they will die out this century. * All language statistics have been updated, and additional information provided about their linguistic affiliation * All topics involving technology have been revised to take account of recent developments, notably in phonetics, language disability, and computing * Maps have been revised to include new countries or country names * Special attention has been paid to fast-moving areas such as language teaching and learning * The text design has been completely updated with many new illustrations throughout '... a celebration of language in all its oddity, beauty, fun, astonishing complexity and limitless variety.' London Review of Books 'The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language is a masterpeice of comprehensiveness and clarity.' New Internationalist '... an ingenious tour de force ... stunningly diverse linguistic menu.' Robert Burchfield, The Times '... magnificently demonstrates Professor Crystal's outstanding breadth of knowledge, incisiveness of judgment and superb skills at getting to the heart of highly complex issues in a clear and straightforward manner.' Randolph Quirk, FBA '... David Crystal has a great facility for explaining language issues with plain good sense, wit and admirable brevity.' The Times Educational Supplement 'One of the world's foremost linguistic experts, Crystal has authored numerous tomes on the history and study of the English language, though this, with its full-colour illustrations and exhaustive index, is arguably the most comprehensive. A useful guide for anyone - from the interested layperson to the most widely read of academics.' The Independent

La complejidad del lenguaje, y por lo tanto de su observación, requiere de tecnicas diversas y no siempre sencillas de aplicar. Una de ellas, fundamental tanto en el lenguaje infantil como en el adulto, es el analisis gramatical. Este libro esta dedicado a ello, enfocandolo desde diferentes puntos de vista, pero, por otro lado, haciendo un analisis exhaustivo y muy completo. Resulta eminentemente practico, por la gran cantidad de ejemplos que da y, ademas, en todo momento se aprecia la experiencia de los autores y su gran sentido practico en los temas que exponen.

This is the definitive survey of the English language-in all its forms. Crystal writes accessibly about the structure of the language, the uses of English throughout the world, and finally he gives a brief history of English. The book has been fully revised and there is a fascinating new chapter on ''The effect of technology'' on the English language.

This second edition of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language presents a mass of new information and introduces the subject of language to a fresh generation of students and general readers. The first edition of the book is probably the most successful general study of language ever published. This second edition extends the range of coverage to include advances in areas like machine translation, speech interaction with machines, and language teaching. There is new material on acoustics, physiological concepts of language, and World English, and a complete update of the language distribution maps, language-speaking statistics, a table of the worlds languages, and further reading. All geopolitical material has been revised to take account of boundary changes. The book has been redesigned and is presented for the first time in full colour, with new pictures and maps added.

Superbly illustrated in colour throughout, this is the most comprehensive survey of the history, structure and worldwide use of English ever written.A revolution in language publishing Superbly illustrated in colour throughout, this is the most comprehensive reference book on the history, structure and worldwide use of English ever written. Clear and accessible, the book abounds with insights into how the language evolved and how it works. All aspects of English are covered: * the history of English * grammar, pronunciation and spelling * spoken and written English * regional and social variations - accents and dialects * new words, jargon, slang and cliches * English in use - in science, law, politics, advertising, the media ...* the huge range and creativity of the English vocabulary * language in literature and language in humour * teaching and learning the language * English as a world language * the future of English Photographs, advertisements, cartoons, quotations, newspaper cuttings, poems, anecdotes and examples vividly complement the text throughout, bringing life, surprise and humour to even the most complex topics. No language student or language lover should be without this unique and fascinating book.