A resource for students, scholars and actors, this book contains glosses and quotes for over 14,000 words that could be misunderstood or unknown to a modern audience. Plot summaries for all Shakespeare's plays are included as well as notes on specific areas of his language.
The New Penguin Concise Encyclopedia is an abridged edition of the bestselling New Penguin Encyclopedia. With over 21,000 entries, and nearly one million words, it is an invaluable and up-to-date source of information on subjects as diverse as current affairs and history, science and philosophy, sport and music, written in a clear direct style that illuminates even the most intricate concept.
David Crystal, world authority on the English language, has written a timely and informative account of the phenomenon of English as a global language. It includes a historical summary of the global development of English; an analysis, well supported by facts and figures, of the current spread and status of English as a first and second language internationally; and an informed assessment - by one of the leading scholars of and general writers about language matters - of the future of English. The book asks three basic questions: what makes a world language? why is English the leading ...
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.
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.
