RELO Resources
English Language References
Last Updated 02/05
Cambridge History of the English Language: Vol. VI, English in North America (Call no. C /0307/ 2001)
John Algeo, (Ed.)
Cambridge University Press 2001
This volume traces the history of English in North America during the past 400 years. Sixteen leading authorities in the field consider how the vocabulary (both standard and slang), grammar, spelling, and usage in both the standard language and regional and social dialects have evolved, and examine the relationship of and interaction between British and American English. Separate chapters deal with African-American English, Canadian English and Newfoundland English. The volume also includes suggestions for further reading, a glossary of linguistic terms, and an extensive bibliography.
English as a Global Language (Call no. C /0314/ 1997)
David Crystal
Cambridge University Press 1997
David Crystal, world authority on the English language, has written a timely and informative account of the phenomenon of English as a global language. The book includes a historical summary of the global facts and figures pertaining to the expansion and current demographic status of English as both a first and second language internationally. It also addresses and answers, in an informed assessment of the future of English, three basic questions: What makes a world language? Why is English the leading candidate? What will it take for English to continue to hold that position? Steering even-handedly through the minefield of political debate about the cultural hegemony of English, it will appeal to anyone with an interest in language issues, whatever their political views on the subject.
Pragmatics (Call no. O /1534/ 1996)
George Yule
Oxford University Press 1996
The Survey of Pragmatics contains nine chapters, each of roughly 10 pages: 1) Definitions and background; 2) Deixis and Reference; 3) Reference and inference; 4) Presupposition and entailment; 5) Cooperation and implicature; 6) Speech acts and events; 7) Politeness and interaction; 8) Conversation and preference structure; 9) Discourse and culture. The Readings are one-page texts extracted from the specialized literature and are followed by a couple of questions. The References help the reader providing him with a selection of titles for every chapter of the Survey. The proposed books are classified in terms of difficulty, from introductory to advanced level. Technical terms are in bold and are explained once more in the Glossary at the back of the book.
Teaching English as an International Language (Call no. O /1546/ 2002)
Sandra Lee Mackey
Oxford University Press 2002
This comprehensive survey examines the impact of business on social and institutional as well as economic change from pre-fur trade days to the era of the modern corporation. Such development is situated, whenever possible, within a comparative, international context and pays particular attention to the rural side of business growth. Conflicting interpretation are succinctly presented. It is an accessible overview of this increasingly important field. English is the major language of international communication, and everyone wants to learn it, but which English, and how? This book questions the cultural assumptions underlying much English teaching, and suggests classroom aims and teaching methods based on the requirements