A Companion to the History of the English Language

A Companion to the History of the English Language addresses the linguistic, cultural, social, and literary approaches to language study. The first text to offer a complete survey of the field, this volume provides the most up-to-date insights of leading international scholars. * An accessible reference to the history of the English language * Comprises more than sixty essays written by leading international scholars * Aids literature students in incorporating language study into their work * Includes an historical survey of the English language, from its Germanic and Indo- European beginnings to modern British and American English * Enriched with maps, diagrams, and illustrations from historical publications * Introduces the latest scholarship in the field