''History of English'' provides students with the historical and contextual background to the study of English and answers the questions of why and how the English language has come to be written and spoken as it is today. This book provides a fresh perspective and innovative insight into an area that is often dealt with in a prosaic and dry manner. ''History of English'': provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of English; covers the origins of English, the change from Old to Middle English and the influence of other languages on English; and, provides key reading from leading figures in the field such as Jean Aitchison, Dick Leith, Bruce Mitchell and David Graddol. This book is accompanied by a supporting website.Structured to reflect the chronological development of the English language, ''History of English'' describes and explains the changes in the language over a span of fifteen hundred years, covering all aspects from phonology and grammar, to the register and discourse. The book also considers international varieties of Englishes and the most recent developments in the history of English.Incorprating examples from a wide variety of texts ''History of English'' provides an interactive and structured textbook that will be essential reading for all students of English language and linguistics.