Description

Hardcover, maroon cloth spine lettered in gold in matching publisher’s slipcase. Brand new in factory shrink wrap. xxiii, 230 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color), maps [WorldCat]. “The English language, in its earliest period, was spoken by a few thousand people, most of whom were illiterate. Today, more than 300 million people speak and write English as their first language. In this book, Robert Burchfield takes us on a brief tour of our ever-changing language as he surveys its history and development and assesses its current state.” A wonderful title for the linguaphile. Folio Society reprinted this title, originally published by Oxford University Press in 1985. several times being in 2006. This printing unknown as it has never been opened. Brand New.