Author Philip Gooden tells the remarkable story of how the West Germanic tongue of a group of Dark Age migrants exploded out of its island home to become the premier international language. He examines in detail the role of imperialism and colonisation in spreading English far beyond the British Isles. And he also looks at how, following World War II, the increased economic and cultural influence of the United States has led to English permeating many other cultures, chiefly through the development of telecommunications technology.
The Story of English is a fascinating tale of linguistic, social and cultural transformation, and one that is accessibly and authoritatively told by an author in perfect command of his material.
