The fight for English : how language pundits ate, shot, and left / David Crystal.

By:

Crystal, David, 1941- [author.]

Material type: Text

TextPublisher: Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2006Description: xi, 239 pages ; 20 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

019920764X
9780199207640

Subject(s):

DDC classification:

420.9 22

LOC classification:

PE1075 .C79 2006

Online resources:

Contributor biographical information

Contents:

Prologue -- 1. Beginnings -- 2. Complications -- 3. Variations -- 4. Standards -- 5. Reformers -- 6. Borrowings -- 7. Courtiers -- 8. Rustics -- 9. Authors -- 10. Censurers -- 11. Protectors -- 12. Chaos -- 13. Authorities -- 14. Change -- 15. Grammar -- 16. Appropriateness -- 17. Incorrectness -- 18. Perspicuity -- 19. Clarity -- 20. Punctuation -- 21. Antecedents -- 22. Consequences -- 23. Context -- 24. Spelling -- 25. Elocution -- 26. Pronunciation -- 27. Institutions -- 28. Education -- 29. Climates -- 30. Future -- Epilogue -- Notes -- Index.

Summary: "The story of battles--both past and present--surrounding English language usage, The Fight for English explores why millions of people feel linguistically inferior. Unhappy with the "zero tolerance" approach to punctuation offered by Lynn Truss's Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, David Crystal offersa view of the subject that is much more balanced. Instead of answering the claims made by other manuals of English usage, Crystal provides an explanation and analysis of the genre as a whole.Crystal weaves an intricate and engaging account that traces the history of the English language and its development over time. From Anglo-Saxon to Modern English, Crystal addresses why the same language issues that were bothering people 250 years ago are still bothering people today. This is thestory of the fight for English usage--the story of the people who tried to shape the language in their own image, but failed generation after generation. In short, they ate, shot, and left. The Fight for English brings language to life on the page with a witty and engaging writing style. Broadening the perspective on the English language, this compellingly informative book has something for everyone interested in the topic. Move over Harry Potter. Here comes punctuation."--Publisher description.

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Holdings
Item type	Current library	Call number	Copy number	Status	Date due	Barcode
Book	City Campus City Campus Main Collection	420.9 CRY (Browse shelf(Opens below))	1	Available		A426795B

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"The story of battles--both past and present--surrounding English language usage, The Fight for English explores why millions of people feel linguistically inferior. Unhappy with the "zero tolerance" approach to punctuation offered by Lynn Truss's Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, David Crystal offersa view of the subject that is much more balanced. Instead of answering the claims made by other manuals of English usage, Crystal provides an explanation and analysis of the genre as a whole.Crystal weaves an intricate and engaging account that traces the history of the English language and its development over time. From Anglo-Saxon to Modern English, Crystal addresses why the same language issues that were bothering people 250 years ago are still bothering people today. This is thestory of the fight for English usage--the story of the people who tried to shape the language in their own image, but failed generation after generation. In short, they ate, shot, and left. The Fight for English brings language to life on the page with a witty and engaging writing style. Broadening the perspective on the English language, this compellingly informative book has something for everyone interested in the topic. Move over Harry Potter. Here comes punctuation."--Publisher description.

Machine converted from AACR2 source record.

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