Author Description
'english Begins At Jamestown' Explores How People Tell And Have Told The Story Of English, From Its Indo-european Origins To Its Present-day Status As A Global Language. It Shows That There Are Better, Worse, And Wrong Ways To Relate The Language's History, Even If There Cannot Necessarily Be One Correct Way. Tim William Machan. Also Issued In Print: 2022. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the various ways the history of the English language has been narrated and constructed over time, questioning the validity of different historical accounts. Tim William Machan, a scholar of English linguistics, examines how cultural and political motivations influence the telling of linguistic history. He argues that while there may not be a single objective truth, certain narratives are demonstrably more accurate or nuanced than others, challenging the reader to evaluate the biases inherent in historical storytelling.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological overview of English from Indo-European roots to its current global status
- Analysis of the historiography of the English language
- Examination of how national identity shapes linguistic narratives
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive linguistic grammar of English
- Does not focus on technical phonological or syntactic evolution
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the field of historiography within linguistics. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is best suited for those with a background in language history or critical theory.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
019188152X
ISBN-13:
9780191881527
History
Linguistics
Language Learning
Sociolinguistics