There's an excellent text called American English, by Walt Wolfram and Natalie Schilling-Estes. It has one historical chapter, however, and the rest is dialectology, language variation, and related matters. Good material, though something of a turgid read. I've used Algeo and Pyles pretty consistently. It has a good chapter on British and American English, it's clearly and well written, and it comes with about the best workbook anybody could want. More exercises, and interesting ones, than anyone can use in a semester, so you have a nice range of choice.
For a couple of years I taught the course using Crystal's Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language and a detailed handout pack I put together. It was great fun, but I don't think it worked as well as a more conventional textbook.
Herb
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Marshall Myers
Sent: Tue 9/12/2006 2:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Textbook for My History of the English Language Course
ATEG Members:
I'm scheduled to teach a section of History of the English Language next
semester. It's a course I've taught before, but it has been a long time.
At the graduate level, I've had courses in historical linguistics, Old
English, Middle English, and, of course, a slew of other descriptive
linguistics courses. So I think I've had the necessary academic training
in the area.
I know there are lots of textbooks out there for such a course, but most
do not emphasize the evolution and history of American English in any
detail. I suppose I have to assume that most if not all students will
have no linguistics courses behind them, although some may, so that may
limit my choices. I do own the Robert McNeil PBS tapes and textbook,
"The Story of the English Language," and I realize there is some
attention to American English there.
Are there any good textbooks on American English out there that would
serve as a supplementary textbook in a course like mine?
I would value any help you might offer.
Best wishes,
Marshall Myers
Eastern Kentucky University
Book Review Editor
ATEG JOURNAL
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