A History of the English Language is considered a standard work on its subject. It offers a comprehensive and balanced exploration of all aspects of the historical development of the English language from the Middle Ages to the present. This, the fourth, edition has been extensively updated, rewritten and revised to take account of the most recent developments in linguistic scholarship. New features include: a rewritten first chapter on the place of English in the world; material on regional varieties of English, including Chicano English, Caribbean English and English in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong; thoroughly revised sections on Old and Middle English syntax; and updated bibliographies.