Standardising English : norms and margins in the history of the English language / edited by Linda Pillière [and three others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Pillière, Linda, 1958- editor.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Standardization.

English language.

English language--Grammar, Historical.

English language--Variation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 286 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2018.

Summary:

This path-breaking study of the standardisation of English goes well beyond the traditional prescriptivism versus descriptivism debate. It argues that the way norms are established and enforced is the result of a complex network of social factors and cannot be explained simply by appeals to power and hegemony. It brings together insights from leading researchers to re-centre the discussion on linguistic communities and language users. It examines the philosophy underlying the urge to standardise language, and takes a closer look at both well-known and lesser-known historical dictionaries, grammars and usage guides, demonstrating that they cannot be simply labelled as 'prescriptivist'. Drawing on rich empirical data and case studies, it shows how the norm continues to function in society, influencing and affecting language users even today.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 12 Mar 2018).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-108-12609-X

1-108-12047-4

1-108-12897-1