Essentials of Early English: Old, Middle and Early Modern English

Essentials of Early English is a practical and highly accessible introduction to the early stages of the English language: Old English, Middle English, and Early Modern English.Designed specifically as a handbook for students beginning the study of early English language, whether for linguistic or literary purposes, it presumes no prior knowledge of the history of the English.Features include:* numerous illustrative texts with accompanying notes* an annotated bibliography to guide students towards further study* a glossary of key terms usedA contextual introduction of the history of English is provided, which includes an outline of English in relation to its origins. A deeper analysis is then given on each of the three key stages of early English: Old, Middle and Early Modern English, using the language of King Alfred, Chaucer and Shakespeare respectively to illustrate points.Each section follows a coherent structure with clear descriptions of spelling pronunciation and main grammatical features. Such essential characteristics of each stage of the language are provided to create the ideal coursebook for History of English courses and to give the student a firm foundation of basic linguistic knowledge which can be applied to further study.