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 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/