Images of English: A Cultural History of the Language
University of Michigan Press, 1993
Cloth: 978-0-472-10283-9 | Paper: 978-0-472-08242-1
Library of Congress Classification PE1072.B33 1991
Dewey Decimal Classification 420.9
Cloth: 978-0-472-10283-9 | Paper: 978-0-472-08242-1
Library of Congress Classification PE1072.B33 1991
Dewey Decimal Classification 420.9
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book offers a unique historical perspective on linguistics by focusing exclusively on how people's evolving opinions, beliefs, and attitudes have shaped the English language over the centuries. Moving away from a standard timeline of grammar and vocabulary changes, Bailey draws on a rich collection of historical quotations to show how commentary about English has always reflected the social anxieties, national pride, and political biases of its time. By tracing these perceptions from the 16th century to the post-colonial world, the book deconstructs the myth of simple "English triumphalism" and reveals that contemporary debates—such as complaints over linguistic decline or calls for gender-neutral phrasing—are actually deeply rooted in centuries-old social dynamics. Ultimately, this foundational text illustrates how our ideas about language are a mirror to society itself, making it an indispensable resource for students and scholars of sociolinguistics, history, and cultural studies.
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