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 international 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 concerned with English: teachers, students, language professionals, politicians, general readers and anyone with a love of the language.
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'A masterly synopsis of the spread of English across the world … English as a Global Language arrives as an elegant successor to Robert McCrum's The Story of English, published in 1986. It is at the same time cool and immensely authoritative. Less than half the size, but with scarcely less text than its richly illustrated Rolls-Royce predecessor, it sets a new standard in the popularisation of linguistics.' Sir John Hanson (Director-General of The British, Times Higher Education Supplement
'This little book is a cross between a tourist guide and a no-nonsense school textbook ... Crystal is skilled at assembling scattered yet useful data in a form that seems safe and reliable. He presents enough facts and figures to make readers feel that they are getting good value for their time and money … The book's value is clear. It is a judicious mix of outline facts and good sense about language ... Overall, this commonsensical little book will be a useful tool for spreading the important message that English is not supreme because it is superior … , that English is not declining, and that it would be a tragedy if English alone remained among languages.' Jean Aitchison, Times Educational Supplement
'This is a fascinating and useful book... a fine introduction for a wide variety of potential users.' Choice
'Crystal provides us with an excellent account of the growth of English as the global language.' Good Book Guide
'This little book is a cross between a tourist guide and a no-nonsense school textbook ... Crystal is skilled at assembling scattered yet useful data in a form that seems safe and reliable. He presents enough facts and figures to make readers feel that they are getting good value for their time and money … The book's value is clear. It is a judicious mix of outline facts and good sense about language ... Overall, this commonsensical little book will be a useful tool for spreading the important message that English is not supreme because it is superior … , that English is not declining, and that it would be a tragedy if English alone remained among languages.' Jean Aitchison, Times Educational Supplement
'This is a fascinating and useful book... a fine introduction for a wide variety of potential users.' Choice
'Crystal provides us with an excellent account of the growth of English as the global language.' Good Book Guide
Book Description
This new edition of David Crystal's influential book contains extra sections on subjects including the future of English as a world language, English on the Internet, and the possibility of an English 'family' of languages; footnotes; new tables; and a full bibliography. There are updates throughout.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By Jon
Format:Paperback
This is a fascinating review of how the English Language got to its present position of world dominance. David Crystal is not, contrary to Daniel's review, a linguistic imperialist. He lives in Wales, speaks Welsh, and champions minority languages. But he also understands that an interconnected world needs a global lingua franca, which will be a second language for the great majority.
From Daniel's review, you might get the impression that Crystal advocates fertilizer bags having instructions only in English. In fact, Crystal is quoting the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who said that farmers in her country should learn English as a second language, since international companies were never going to print instructions on fertilizer bags in Sinhalese. She was simply being realistic.
Crystal recognises that the dominance of English today is the result of chance, the language repeatedly being in the right place at the right time. If English had not become the common second language, another language would have done so. Crystal gives us the reasons for English's rise, the history, the effects on other languages and some predictions of where its going. It's quite a short book, and I would have preferred more detailed discussion in places. But it's certainly worthwhile reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an extremely interesting, accurate and comprehensive review of the status of English in the world. Being the second edition, all the data are revised and information is updated. David Crystal presents a neat review of English in all the spheres of life - cinema, broadcasting, politics and elsewhere, providing with dates of "first recorded usages" and later development of the language in a certain field. There is a section of New Englishes, where illustrative points from emerging varieties are presented in reference to vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and discourse. David Crystal also makes invaluable speculations about the emerging syllable-timed nature of New Englishes and presents the conflict over the officiality of English in the USA. There is an absolute balance of presentation of the positive and negative sides of English on the global scale, its side effects and benefits. Alongside his neutral, from-the-outside observations, Professor quotes other authors' opinions about the situation, both favourable and pejorative.
On the whole, the book is very comprehensive, detailed, learned and extremely interesting, claiming the expert hand that wrote it.
I advise everybody to read this must-run book, also to enjoy the sistering "Language Death", which I am going to do soon.
On the whole, the book is very comprehensive, detailed, learned and extremely interesting, claiming the expert hand that wrote it.
I advise everybody to read this must-run book, also to enjoy the sistering "Language Death", which I am going to do soon.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Short and to the point, this provides an overveiw of how English came to be a global language, the different status it has worldwide and the issues it raises. It's a slim volume and it won't take long to read but it's an interesting subject and makes you realise how lucky you are if English is your first language. I read right after doing a Teaching English as a Forign Language course so it was an illuminating look at where in the world I could go.
However it sometimes lacks detail and leaves you wanting more, but don't let that put you off - it's an interesting introduction to a subject I intend to learn more about.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, highly readable
David Chrystal makes studying English and Linguistics fun and fascinating. Very interesting and a good opener for more of his.
Published 3 months ago by Jon Swan
5.0 out of 5 stars
study book
perfect for my studies. I enjoy David Crystal books, they are much easier to read that some other authors on this subject.
Published on 12 Feb 2011 by J. R. Hancock
2.0 out of 5 stars
too blue eyed
Crystal's book is the exact counterpart to Phillipson's "Linguistic Imperialism". While the former has been called an "alarmist" (because of his view that... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2001 by "daniel_sp"
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