Studies in Language Variation and Change 2

Download or read book Studies in Language Variation and Change 2 written by Catherine Delesse and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2018-06-11 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of eleven essays traces the complex paths of change taken by the English language in its long history, from its Indo-European origins to the present day. Just like any other language, English is a complex system made up of several interconnected sub-systems – lexical, syntactical, phonological, morphological – and all of those sub-systems are subject to change, resulting in constant shifts and readjustments. Additionally, more than some other languages, English has a history marked by strong upheavals, particularly with the influence of Scandinavian and Romance languages in the Middle Ages. The contributions here consider all aspects of that complex history, with four of them taking a particular interest in the issues brought about by language contact with French and Latin.