Evolution of the English Language

Original Inquiry Question:

How has the English language changed over time?
Citations:
Speaking American: A History of English in the United States
This source asks questions such as: What role have America's democratizing impulses,
and its vibrantly heterogeneous speakers, played in shaping our language and separating it from
the mother tongue? which I feel will be interesting to look into. It also investigates the history
and continuing evolution of our language from the sixteenth century to the present. This source is
from the Oxford University Press.
Bailey, Richard W. Speaking American: A History of English in the United States. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.
The Invention of the Human
Particular chapters throughout this book seem that they will aid in my research of the
evolution of the English language, since it touches on the many words that are contributed to
William Shakespeare.
Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. New York: Riverhead Books, 1998.
Print.

The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

This source is a history of the English language and is traced from around 500 A.D. to its
modern form. It is also said to note, the influence of such groups and individuals as early
Anglo-Saxon tribes, Alfred the Great, and William Shakespeare. I feel that this would tie in well
with another resource that I found.

Bragg, Melvyn. The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language. New York: Arcade
Pub, 2004. Print.
Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States
It is described as, A linguistic history, told through anecdote and humor, of American
speech and English word usage in the United States. The chapter, American English Today
looks promising to me.
Bryson, Bill. Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United
States. New York: W. Morrow, 1994. Print.
Our Marvelous Native Tongue: the Life and Times of the English Language
The summary of this book says it, Recounts a history of the English language from its
Indo-European origins to the present. From looking at the chapter titles, it seems that there are a
few chapters that will pertain to my project such as:
The common source: Indo-European and its speakers -Our infinite variety: modern variations on an old theme -Not everybody's English: some remarkable vocabularies -From here on in: English today and tomorrow.
Claiborne, Robert. Our Marvelous Native Tongue: The Life and Times of the English Language.
New York, N.Y: Times Books, 1983. Print.
Discovering Language: How English Changed in America
This is a video that, Traces the Americanization of the English language from the time
the Pilgrims came to America to the landing of astronauts on the moon by relating the origins of
various words and phrases in American English to the history of America. This seems like a
promising resource.
Discovering Language: How English Changed in America. Coronet Instructional Media, 1973.
Film.

English in America
This resource is a video which explores, the linguistic influence of westward
expansion. I believe that it will show some of the influences that impacted our language.
Thomas, David. English in America. Films Media Group, 2006. Film.

Standardizing English: Essays in the History of Language Change

This source appears to align with my topic well. There was not much information online
about this book, and I didnt get a chance to look through it in the library, but I believe that it is
worth checking out. It claims to be a government publication.
Fisher, John H, and Joseph B. Trahern. Standardizing English: Essays in the History of
Language Change, in Honor of John Hurt Fisher. Knoxville: University of Tennessee
Press, 1989. Print.
The Cambridge History of the English Language
This book deals with the history of English up to the Norman Conquest and contains
phonology and morphology, syntax, semantics and vocabulary, dialectology, onomastics, literary
language, and data collected throughout the years. Certain chapters seem that they will prove
beneficial.
Hogg, Richard M, N F. Blake, Roger Lass, Suzanne Romaine, R W. Burchfield, and John
Algeo. The Cambridge History of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, 1992. Print.

Language Anxiety: Conflict and Change in the History of English

This book actually speaks on the negative aspects of conflict and change within the
English language. I think this source will be an interesting one to check out and see the everpresent anxieties associated with language change
Machan, Tim W. Language Anxiety: Conflict and Change in the History of English. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.

American English

This book is from the Oxford University Press, which is a renowned publisher and has
ties to the Oxford English Dictionary. Some of the contents of this book look promising such as:
The English language in America -The language of the colonists -The melting pot -Regional and social variations -The future of English.
Marckwardt, Albert H. American English. New York: Oxford University Press, 1958. Print.

The Story of English

This source is an account of the English language and how it has changed throughout
time. It contains many interviews of individuals.
McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil. The Story of English. New York, N.Y.,
U.S.A: Viking, 1986. Print.

Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like,
Care
This book touches on modern English and its roots from the past. This writing offers its
perspective on acceptable evolution of language and outright language misuse. It also predicts,
the consequences of the overuse of street English in contemporary writing, music, and society.
McWhorter, John H. Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why
We Should, Like, Care. New York: Gotham Books, 2003. Print.

A History of the English Language

This source is from the Linguistic Society of America and is peer reviewed. It seems like
it will be a good source to utilize.
Minkova, D. "Van Gelderen: a History of the English Language; Hogg & Denison (eds.): a
History of the English Language; Mugglestone (ed.): the Oxford History of English."
Language Baltimore Linguistic Society of America. 85.4 (2009): 893-907. Print.

Other Inquiry Questions brought about through research:

How many of Shakespeares words have stuck and are currently used today?