As a highly readable source for observations on American English, albeit
one that has to be taken with several pinches of salt, you could use
Bill Bryson's _Made in America_. It's non-technical, and designed to be
humorous. I had copies on reserve as supplemental reading one semester
when I taught the class, and the one problem I ran into is that students
did not always figure out when Bryson was being facetious (he has some
comments to the effect that the Welsh view vowels as sinful, and the
same type of studentswho can't figure out that "A Modest Proposal" is
satire tend to take Bryson at his word there).
I have to emphasize, though, that Bryson's book is at about the same
level as the "Story of English" series as far as attention to technical
detail and coverage of linguistic issues -- it's written to sell, not to
impress linguists.
Bill Spruiell
Dept. of English
Central Michigan University
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Marshall Myers
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 3:47 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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