"The Oxford History of the English Language" traces the language from its obscure Indo-European to its twenty-first century position as the world's first language. It describes the history of English within the British Isles, its changing roles in different places, and its rise to global pre-eminence. Fifteen experts describe the history of English within a chronological framework: they examine written varieties and the spoken language of everyday life; and they consider and explain changes in words, meanings, grammar, and pronunciation. The book will appeal to everyone with a keen interest in the English languge and its development.