Language Myths and the History of English

Zusatztext we must thank Watts for presenting a narrative and interpretative text, in which the quantitative results, so prevalent in recent research, reamain secondary. Within its pages, it becomes clear that history has an open nature, acquiring new dimensions in new circumstances, and that knowledge, a shared legacy continuously rebuilt, is only obtained through research and debate. Informationen zum Autor Richard J. Watts is Emeritus Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Bern. Klappentext Language Myths and the History of English deconstructs common myths about the historical development of English and looks at the ideological reasons for their existence. Zusammenfassung Language Myths and the History of English aims to deconstruct the myths that are traditionally reproduced as factual accounts of the historical development of English. Using concepts and interpretive sensibilities developed in the field of sociolinguistics over the past 40 years, Richard J. Watts unearths these myths and exposes their ideological roots. His goal is not to construct an alternative discourse, but to offer alternative readings of the historical data. Watts raises the question of what we mean by a linguistic ideology, and whether any discourse--a hegemonic discourse, an alternative discourse, or even a deconstructive discourse--can ever be free of it. The book argues that a naturalized discourse is always built on a foundation of myths, which are all too easily taken as true accounts.

Product details

• Authors: Richard J. Watts, Watts Richard J.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 09.02.2011
• EAN: 9780195327601
• ISBN: 978-0-19-532760-1
• No. of pages: 352
• Series: Oxford Studies in Sociolinguistics; Oxford Studies in Sociolinguis
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; English, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Sociolinguistics, Sociolinguistics, Historical & comparative linguistics, Historical and comparative linguistics