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HomeShop at BookSurgeLanguage Arts & DisciplinesEtymologyThe Timeline History of the English Language |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 10 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 A vibrant backdrop to the English language Jul 12, 2010
By Leisa Collins
Although I would consider myself well versed in the English language, this concise and well researched book gave me a new and refreshing perspective of a subject that "everyone already knows about."
My understanding of its literary beginnings blossomed and by the end of the book I could see how the evolution of this great language has created a vibrant backdrop to the center stage of arts and acheivements that have shaped our culture right up to the present day.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Excellent Overview Jul 22, 2010
By M. Brown
This is a well laid out overview of the history of English. It would be particularly useful for students who want to read about a particular aspect of the history of the language, or for anyone who would like to get a better feeling for how English has developed. The author has a nice prose style and has written a clear, easy to read textbook that would be an asset to any library.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
A Great Read and a Useful Guide Sep 28, 2010
By Benjamin Johnson
The Timeline History of the English Language reads great like a fascinating epic, which it is. All the developments and battles that shaped the language we use today, and knowing it has not only improved my handle on the English language but I now understand how the plethora of languages that stem from Indo-European are connected and why English came out on top in sheer number of words and dissemination. Highly recommended for students of any subject. The timelines and visuals that accompany the book are invaluable and help one to grasp such a wide-ranging and fundamental development in the history of man.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
ForeWord Clarion Review Apr 09, 2010
By Gary Judge
The Timeline History of the English Language is a concise, enlightening reference tool filled with helpful illustrations. This text is ideally suited to high school students, and college professors may find it an excellent supplement to an undergraduate reading list. The book's unique value is in its organization and brevity. Rather than wading through verbiage to get an answer to a simple question, readers can extract required information faster by referring to one of numerous charts, maps, or timelines.
Gary Judge has presented his material in a simplified, easy-to-understand layout, broken into three parts. He includes historical details as well as information on derivations, the alphabet, and linguistic research. His practical glossary is a quick guide for those who want to look something up without reading extensively. The text is indexed for even greater accessibility. Judge's goal is to clarify how this language has evolved, enabling the student to understand where the words came from and how they were shaped, while providing details on impacting cultural forces.
Special features of this book include various ways of looking at the growth of the language, starting with a simple view, progressing to a historical breakdown, and ending with a
wide view. At a glance, readers can see a timeline of major languages that contributed to English or a timeline of cultural development and Indo-European migrations. Judge addresses interesting phases, such as the invention of the printing press and standardization, the Renaissance and literary enhancement, early modern English literature, and American English vs. British English.
Julia Ann Charpentier (ForeWord Clarion Review)
Great for my English Students! Jan 03, 2012
By JackieW
I have been teaching English as a foreign language for 27 years and used a variety of English text books but I have never found a book that would give my students an overview of how English developed and why it has so many oddities. Books on the history of the English language are generally too difficult for the non-native English student to grasp. The conversational tone of this book with the clear maps and illustrations make it accessible to non-native English speakers who have a high school knowledge of English or above. It could also be of interest to native English speakers who would like to find out more about the background of their own language. I certainly have a better understanding of the English language after reading this book and look forward to using it with my students.
See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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