This Language, A River: A History of English – Second Edition
  • Publication Date: February 28, 2026
  • ISBN: 9781554816965 / 1554816963
  • 375 pages; 6½" x 9"

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This Language, A River: A History of English – Second Edition

  • Publication Date: February 28, 2026
  • ISBN: 9781554816965 / 1554816963
  • 375 pages; 6½" x 9"

This Language, A River is an introduction to the history of English that recognizes multiple varieties of the language in both current and historical contexts. The book aims to enable students to both grasp traditional histories of English, and to extend and complicate those histories. The second edition uses updated terminology (avoiding “Anglo-Saxon” and further explaining “strong” and “weak” verbs in the history of Indo-European languages) and provides expanded discussions of morphology, syntax, and global Englishes. Corrections and updates have been made throughout.

The accompanying workbook includes exercises keyed to each chapter of the textbook. Exercises are graded into beginning, intermediate, and advanced groupings, which will aid in making the textbook appropriate for different levels of students.

For more information about the accompanying workbook, click here.

Preface

1: Introduction
2: Grammar Fundamentals
3: Before English
4: Introduction to Phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet
5: Germanic
6: Four Important Terms and Concepts
7: Old English
8: Middle English
9: Early Modern English
10: The Modern Period and Global Englishes

Glossary
Answers to Exercises
Works Cited and Bibliography Index

K. Aaron Smith and Susan M. Kim are Professors of English at Illinois State University.

  • • Balanced approach to the history of English takes into account linguistics, history, and literature
  • • Clear, systematic organization gives students an overview of grammar fundamentals before going into more depth on linguistic concepts
  • • Exercises give students a “rest” in their reading and a chance to review new concepts
  • • Takes a rigorous approach to concepts, but the authors’ language is approachable
  • • Plentiful illustrations and diagrams break up the text and illuminate important points