: Explores the nature, sources, and structure of the lexicon, including etymology and "lexical dimensions" like slang and taboos.
: Traces the language's evolution from its origins and Old English through Middle and Early Modern English to its current status as a global language. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language
: Access to online audio files featuring David Crystal, allowing readers to hear historical pronunciations and regional accents. Buying Guide : Explores the nature, sources, and structure of
: Examines varieties of discourse and regional, social, personal, and electronic variations, such as "Netspeak" and social media language. Buying Guide : Examines varieties of discourse and
: Details the phonological system (sounds) and the writing system (orthography).
: Covers language acquisition in children and modern digital methods for studying English, such as corpus linguistics. Key Features of the Third Edition
, written by world-renowned linguist David Crystal , is a comprehensive reference work that explores the history, structure, and global use of the English language. Now in its third edition (released in late 2018), it is celebrated for its highly visual layout, featuring hundreds of photographs, maps, diagrams, and over 60 new online audio resources that bring linguistic extracts to life. Structure and Major Sections