My Account Log in

2 options

English words : history and structure / Donka Minkova and Robert Stockwell.

EBSCOhost Academic eBook Collection (North America) Available online

View online

EBSCOhost eBook Community College Collection Available online

View online
Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Minkova, Donka, 1944- author.
Stockwell, Robert P., author.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
English language--Etymology.
English language.
English language--Morphology.
English language--Word formation.
Vocabulary.
Physical Description:
1 online resource (xiv, 219 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).
Edition:
Second edition.
Place of Publication:
Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Language Note:
English
Summary:
This new edition is concerned primarily with the learned vocabulary of English - the words borrowed from the classical languages. It surveys the historical events that define the layers of vocabulary in English, introduces some of the basic principles of linguistic analysis, and is a helpful manual for vocabulary discernment and enrichment. The new edition has been updated with a discussion of the most recent trends of blending and shortening associated with texting and other forms of electronic communication and includes a new classification of the types of allomorphy. It discusses important topics such as segment sonority and the historical shifting of long vowels in English, and includes a new section on Grimm's law, explaining some of the more obscure links between Germanic and Latinate cognates. Exercises accompany each chapter and an online workbook contains readings and exercises to strengthen knowledge acquired in the classroom.
Contents:
Word-origins
The background of English
Composition of the early modern and modern English vocabulary
Smaller than words : morphemes and types of morphemes
Allomorphy, phonetics, and affixation
Replacement rules
Deletion rules and other kinds of allomorphy
Fossilized allomorphy : false cognates and other etymological pitfalls
Semantic relations and semantic change
The pronunciation of classical words in English
Appendix: Morpheme list.
Notes:
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
1-107-20005-9
1-282-53952-3
9786612539527
0-511-80592-6
0-511-71919-1
0-511-71964-7
0-511-51578-2
0-511-71873-X
0-511-51706-8
OCLC:
609832945

The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.

My Account

Shelf Request an item Bookmarks Fines and fees Settings

Guides

Using the Library Catalog Using Articles+ Library Account