Customer Reviews

The English Languages (Canto)

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As the previous review notes, this book is not really a "guide" to the various national varieties of the English language. Nor is it a phrase book. It won't help you very much in your travels.

Rather, this is an historical study about different views on, and attitudes towards, the English language(s). So, for example, McArthur outlines how the English language has come to be periodized ( i.e., as "Old" English, "Middle" English, and "Modern" English). He analyzes different "models" of the language (e.g. "container" models, "organic" models) and how it is viewed globally (as different national "Englishes," or as off-shoots of British or American, or as various regional English standards, etc.). And he critically investigates the unique position of Scots English (dialect of English or separate language?) and the global implications of world English (will English break up into many national languages the way Latin did?).

This is an excellent historiographical survey and it has wonderful excerpts from other sources about the history and contemporary extent of the English language. Taken for what it is intended to be, it's an excellent book. But don't be fooled by the title -- it's not a Berlitz guide.

This book is an intriguing analysis of the modern situation, wherein disparate dialects of English are evolving into increasingly distinct dialects, arguably distinct languages.

At first you think that this book is going to give you insight into the stardard language as spoken in Britain, Australia, and so on. There is a lot on diversity but we never quite get to the practical side of things and it is all left a bit unclear. What I needed was a straightforward guide for my work, when I travel on business, so I avoid misunderstandings and get the language right when I talk. It would be really helpful if this author could write a book with a description of the standard language for each country and vocabulary lists for the most usual words. You could then look across. I am going to Australia, then I say this, I am going to Britain, then I say this, and so on.