English Begins at Jamestown: Narrating the History of a Language

The book English Begins at Jamestown explores the factors that influence how the English language and its history are narrated, arguing that different choices lead to significantly different narratives. It examines the construction of narrative principles, the types of facts and analyses they allow or prevent, and the roles of speakers in transforming the grammar and pragmatics of English since the colonial period. The conclusion emphasizes that there are better, worse, and wrong ways to narrate the language's history, but there cannot be one correct way.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The study of English history begins with the evidence that its narrators choose, the historical periods they focus on, and the guiding principles and frameworks they adopt. Even slight variations in these choices can lead to vastly different narratives. English Begins at Jamestown delves into the factors behind these choices and their impact on our understanding of the English language and its history. Tim Machan explores the various ways in which the story of English has been told, from its Indo-European origins to its current status as a global language. He examines the construction of narrative principles, the types of facts and analyses they permit or prohibit, and the limits of what can be known beyond them. The book's arguments are historically and critically wide-ranging, covering themes such as social purpose, aesthetics, periodization, and grammatical structure. The conclusion extends the discussion to the roles of speakers themselves, who have transformed the grammar and pragmatics of English since the colonial period embodied in the Jamestown settlement. English Begins at Jamestown demonstrates that there are better, worse, and wrong ways to narrate the history of the English language, even if there is no single correct way.

English Begins at Jamestown

The study of English history begins with the evidence that its narrators choose, the historical periods they focus on, and the guiding principles and frameworks they adopt. Even slight variations in these choices can lead to vastly different narratives. English Begins at Jamestown delves into the factors behind these choices and their impact on our understanding of the English language and its history. Tim Machan explores the various ways in which the story of English has been told, from its Indo-European origins to its current status as a global language. He examines the construction of narrative principles, the types of facts and analyses they permit or prohibit, and the limits of what can be known beyond them. The book's arguments are historically and critically wide-ranging, covering themes such as social purpose, aesthetics, periodization, and grammatical structure. The conclusion extends the discussion to the roles of speakers themselves, who have transformed the grammar and pragmatics of English since the colonial period embodied in the Jamestown settlement. English Begins at Jamestown demonstrates that there are better, worse, and wrong ways to narrate the history of the English language, even if there is no single correct way.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198846369