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 both to grasp traditional histories of English and to extend and complicate those histories. The second edition updates and contextualizes terminology, and provides expanded discussions of morphology, syntax, global Englishes, and the development of the discipline of historical English language study.
This 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.
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Comments
“This second edition of This Language, A River offers smart additions and adjustments to what is already my preferred textbook. Revisions to crucial terminology reflect critical, sociolinguistic attention to the complicated place of the history of English in the curriculum. New attention to the origins of historical linguistics during the Early Modern period affords students the opportunity to consider the social and historical forces that shape our perception and study of English. Additionally, this edition deepens students’ access to historical linguistics as a discipline that still has more to learn.” — Daniel Remein, University of Massachusetts Boston
“This second edition of This Language, A River builds on the strengths of the first, offering a clear, concise picture of the development of English. Smith and Kim remind students and teachers alike that far from being a field of study cemented in the discoveries of the past, the study of the English language is always offering something new to learn.” — Margaret Pyne Monteverde, Belmont University
“I have used This Language, A River ever since its first edition was published in 2018. The material of language change through millennia is presented in a sophisticated manner yet with enough of the historical and social context provided. A thorough overview of grammar essentials is helpful to students, and so are the plentiful hands-on exercises. An answer key allows students to monitor their acquisition of the material independently.” — Helena Halmari, Sam Houston State University
