The Cambridge History of the English Language: Volume 2, 1066–1476

The Cambridge History of the English Language is the first multi-volume work to provide a comprehensive and authoritative account of the history of English from its beginnings to its present-day worldwide use. Volume 2 deals with the Middle English period, approximately 1066–1476, and describes and analyses developments in the language from the Norman Conquest to the introduction of printing. This period witnessed important features like the assimilation of French and the emergence of a standard variety of English. There are chapters on phonology and morphology, syntax, dialectology, lexis and semantics, literary language, and onomastics. Each chapter concludes with a section on further reading; and the volume as a whole is supported by an extensive glossary of linguistic terms and a comprehensive bibliography. The chapters are written by specialists who are familiar with modern approaches to the study of historical linguistics.

• First multi-volume account of the history of English to be published in the UK • Comprehensive coverage • Star contributors in the field

List of maps; General Editor’s preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction Norman Blake; 2. Phonology and morphology Roger Lass; 3. Middle english dictionary James Milroy; 4. Syntax Olga Fischer; 5. Lexis and semantics David Burnley; 6. The literary language Norman Blake; 7. Onomastics Cecily Clark; Glossary of linguistic terms; Bibliography; Index.