Status
Available
Call number
Publication
St. Martin's Press (2013), Edition: 1St Edition, 336 pages
Description
Presents a history of English spelling through chapters that cover such topics as the introduction of the Roman alphabet, each letter's origins, and the development of long and short vowels.
User reviews
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
An approachable explanation of how and why English spelling has changed since it was first written by Anglo-Saxon clerics. Crystal is erudite, pragmatic, and witty. The book will not help the reader to spell better but it does indicate the tools needed to learn the skill and makes sensible
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suggestions about effective way to teach it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lukerik
Don't be put off by Crystal's prissy introduction. I think he's just a bit annoyed because he's a serious academic and he's written something that's fun to read. There is a 'teaching appendix' but the bulk of the book is the history of English seen through the medium of its spelling. That may sound
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a bit dry, but really it's not. It's written for the layman with a minimum of technical language. I'm relatively well informed for a layman and I learnt loads. I liked the parts about Old and Middle English the most. Show Less
Awards
The Best Children's Books of the Year (Nine to Twelve — 2014)
Language
Pages
328
Original language
English
ISBN
1250003474 / 9781250003478
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