The Story of English: How an Obscure Dialect Became the World's Most-Spoken Language

· Michael O'Mara Books
7 reviews
Ebook
192
Pages
Tools
Eligible

About this ebook

The Story of English illustrates the compelling history of how the relatively obscure dialects spoken by tribes from what are now Denmark, the Low Countries and northern Germany, became the most widely spoken language in the world, and of how that language evolved during the last two millennia.

Chronologically ordered and divided into six main sections covering pre-Roman and Latin influences, the ascent of Old English, and the succession of Middle English, Early Modern and then Late Modern English to today's global language, this fascinating book also explores such factors as the history of the printing press, the works of Chaucer, the evolution of The American Dictionary of the English Language - commonly known as Webster's - and the magisterial Oxford English Dictionary, to the use of slang in today's speech and the coming of electronic messaging: language for a post-modern world.

The Story of English is a great book for any lover not just of English, but of the history and development of language.
The Story of English illustrates the compelling history of how the relatively obscure dialects spoken by tribes from what are now Denmark, the Low Countries and northern Germany, became the most widely spoken language in the world, and of how that language evolved during the last two millennia. ...

Ratings and reviews

7 reviews
Komal Joshi
April 23, 2026
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About the author

Joseph Piercy is a freelance writer. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in English studies, and he also studied Russian Literature and Creative Writing at university. Joseph is a regular contributor to various magazines and journals, and he is the author of books on a variety of subjects ranging from English language and literature to history and popular philosophy. His most recent books, Life Lessons from Literature and The Little Book of Stoic Wisdom, are also published by Michael O'Mara Books.
Joseph Piercy is a freelance writer. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in English studies, and he also studied Russian Literature and Creative Writing at university. Joseph is a regular contributor to various magazines and journals, and he is the author of books on a variety of subjects rang...

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