- Hardcover: 520 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press (25 May 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0198662483
- ISBN-13: 978-0198662488
- Product Dimensions: 24 x 16.4 x 4.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,210,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Long gone are the days when English as proprietarily used by educated people in the tiny triangle of southern England formed by Oxford, Cambridge and London is deemed correct and all other versions wrong. The Oxford Guide to World English takes as its "descriptivist" starting point that English is now spoken in every continent by over a billion people across the world, about a quarter of them native speakers. In 70 countries worldwide English is an official or semi official language and has a significant role in 20 more. And because of the Internet--the language of which is 75 per cent English--the number of English users is rising exponentially with middle classes everywhere seeking it for their children as a global resource owned by nobody and everybody. Sadly, it has also become a very powerful– almost predatory--language which seriously threatens ‘endangered’ languages.
The regional varieties and their evolution make a fascinating study that forms the main body of Tom McArthur’s book, a spin-off from his The Oxford Companion to the English Language (1992). In Singapore, for example, the particles "on" and "off" can be used as verbs as in "to on/off the light" and he lists 34 expressions used in Antarctic English which have "ice" as a prefix ranging from "ice year" and "ice tongue" to "icepan" and "ice pilot." Each variety of English is minutely discussed in terms of its history, grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary.
The 500 pages of The Oxford Guide to World English conclude by examining the ways in which English continues to change, and the role of so called "standard" English and whether or not the world now needs an international Standard version. Then there’s the vexed question of English teaching. Should it be, or is it, a profession, a social service or a global industry? Macarthur quotes Indian journalist Santanu Bora writing in the Maharashtra Herald: "I am speaking a living language and writing one too. I don’t hate Bob Marley’s English any more than Paul McCartney’s. Paul’s got rain and snow in his way of speaking and Bob’s got sun and sand in his speech. I have the monsoon, the mystic, religions, caste, poverty, the Queen... the list in long, in mine."--Susan Elkin
Review
"Enchanting"--New York Times Book Review
"What did we do without it?"--The Times, London
"What did we do without it?"--The Times, London
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is a lot of useful, relvant and interesting information crammed into this book. In a way, that is my only prolem with it, the information is so crammed, that the publishers chose to use a very small print size to fit it all in. As a result, the book is uncomfortable to read and this could be off-putting for some, but don't let this deter you, the effort required to read this worthwhile, all the information is well resached, and up to date. The book might also appeal to non-students of English, it is great to pick up and dip into, but be warned, once you pick it up, you may find that you are still reading 20 minutes later.
If the print was bigger I would have given it 5 stars.
If the print was bigger I would have given it 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There are two sides to this book. On the one hand, it presents English as a predatory language that endangers other languages. English takes over, influences local languages, anglicises thinking patterns, etc. etc. In short, it has become a world wide imperial language.
On the other hand, this book presents English as a vulnerable language, crumbling into lots of Englishes. Several varieties are shown in the different chapters on America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe. In some cases the language is taking a course of its own. For example in Singapore, on and off are used as verbs, to on and to off.
It is interesting to see the two sides of the argument but on occasions it is not clear what this book really means.
Format:Hardcover
A brilliantly written incisive account of the various linguistic strands of the English language. Clear, concise and totally waffle-free. For anyone interested in the continuing development of English, this book is perfect.
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Food for thought
There are two sides to this book. On the one hand, it presents English as a predatory language that endangers other languages. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2005 by anap
Food for thought
There are two sides to this book. On the one hand, it presents English as a predatory language that endangers other languages. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2005 by anap
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