Tim William Machan

What is English?: And Why Should We Care?

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ISBN 13:
9780199601257
author:
Tim William Machan
format:
HardBack
publisher:
OUP Oxford
language:
English
Publication Year:
2013
Pages:
416
Dimensions:
23.6 x 2.5 x 16.3 cm
Genre:
Society, Politics & Philosophy, Social Sciences, Linguistics
Condition:
New
Availability:
Item usually sent within 10 working days
£41.41

Description

What is English? Can we be certain when we say something belongs to this language? Tim Machan explores the present and past of English, examining its evolution among the one and a half billion people who speak it. He searches for a definition that fits the constantly changing varieties of English.

Machan's investigation takes him through episodes in English history, from the ambitions of those who helped standardise the language to the preoccupations of influential writers. He also looks at contemporary business jargon and explores the diverse forms of English spoken around the world, including creoles, pidgins, and dialects.

Through his research, Machan reveals the stable category of English, one that rests paradoxically within its constantly mutating forms and varieties. This book is for anyone interested in English and the role of language in society and culture.

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