The Cambridge History of the English Language: Volume 5, English in Britain and Overseas: Origins and Development

The Cambridge History of the English Language is the first multi-volume work to provide a full account of the history of English. Its authoritative coverage extends from areas of central linguistic interest and concern to more specialised topics such as personal names and place names. The volumes dealing with earlier periods are chronologically based, whilst those dealing with more recent periods are geographically based, thus reflecting the spread of English over the last 300 years. Volume 5 looks at the dialects of England since 1776, the historical development of English in the former Celtic-speaking countries of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, and at varieties of English in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia. This unique volume will be welcomed by all those interested in the spread of English around the world.

• Next volume to be published in Cambridge History of the English Language (first two volumes published in 1992) • This volume of more general interest than the first two: history of English dialects since 1776, and increasing divergence of the language • Well-known contributors, and very well-known editor (was Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionaries)

General editor’s preface; Volume editor’s preface; 1. Introduction Robert Burchfield; Part I. Regional Varieties Of English In Great Britain and Ireland; 2. English in Scotland J. Derrick McClure; 3. English in Wales Alan R. Thomas; 4. English in Ireland Jeffrey L. Kallen; 5. The dialects of England since 1776 Ossi Ihalainen; Part II. English Overseas; 6. English in Australia George W. Turner; 7. English in the Caribbean John A. Holm; 8. English in New Zealand Laurie Bauer; 9. English in South Africa William Branford; 10. English in South Asia Braj B. Kachru; Glossary of linguistic terms; Bibliography; Index.

‘A distinguished team of contributors…much to admire. This handsome volume is an indispensable work of reference.’ John Honey, Times Higher Education Supplement