English as a Global Language

by: David Crystal (Author) › Visit Amazon’s David Crystal Page See search results for this author David Crystal (Author)

Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2nd edition (21 July 2003)

Language: English

Print length: 232 pages

ISBN-10: 0521823471

ISBN-13: 9780521823470

Book Description

David Crystal, world authority on the English language, presents a lively and factual account of the rise of English as a global language and explores the whys and wherefores of the history, current status and future potential of English as the inteational language of communication. English has been lauded as the most ‘successful’ language ever, with 1,500 million speakers worldwide; but Crystal avoids taking sides and tells the story in a measured but engaging way, backed by facts and figures. This new edition of his classic book includes new material (on the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of New Englishes), footnotes, new tables, and a full bibliography. There are updates throughout. This is a book for anyone of any nationality conceed with English: teachers, students, language professionals, politicians, general readers and anyone with a love of the language.