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The Story of English, Programs 1-9 [VHS]
 
 

The Story of English, Programs 1-9 [VHS] (1986)

Starring: Peter Hall, John Barton (II) Director: William Cran Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: VHS Tape
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Actors: Peter Hall, John Barton (II), Barry Humphries, Robert MacNeil
  • Directors: William Cran
  • Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Rating: NR (Not Rated)
  • Number of tapes: 5
  • Studio: Homevision
  • VHS Release Date: September 21, 2001
  • Run Time: 495 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6302892058
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,094 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #12 in  Video > Boxed Sets > Documentary

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Encompassing history, geography, sociology, drama, language, arts, and more, The Story of English takes viewers on an unforgettable journey through the history of the English language. Host Robert MacNeil travels the world to illustrate the language's global influence. Part travelogue, part linguistics, part history, and all fascinating, the series is a unique blend of solid scholarship and engrossing entertainment.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT, October 15, 2003
By P. J. Ricci "managerman" (Glassboro, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This series treats English seriously and intelligently. It regards English (in all of its forms) as flowers. All different but beautiful. Wonderful historical and cultural info too. I have used this with 6th graders and high school students(grades 9 to 12). Regardless of level there is something for everyone.
The Irish and Scottish sections are first rate.( Did you know that Jimi Hendrix was Irish? Cool. ) I learned more about British English than I thought possible. Shakespeare and Joyce and Mark Twain are treated royally. The section that presents info on the powerful contributions of African-Americans throughout history is superb. Nothing is left out. Etymologies abound!
Run...don't walk to snare this series. I have watched this perhaps 50 times (with and w/o students) since its debut on PBS and know how valuable this tool is for a teacher of English.

ps A very unique feature is that they go to the workplace to hear each variety of English speaker. The common man tells his story and you learn "how" he tells the story. The sub-titles are used to help us make sense of the dialect and "slanguage" as it exists. It is a living oral-biography of the language and the people. This is a loving tribute from start to finish.

pps Don't listen to that mook from the not-so great white north.
He knows not of what he speaks.

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34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction and analysis of varieties of English., December 4, 1998
By jvgville@usa.net (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
I have been using these films for ten years in my linguistics and hisotry of English courses. The information is absolutely invaluable. The portion called, "The Loaded Weapon" concerns the relationship between Irish and English in the Irish Republic. Even though it is somewhat dated, the episode contains wonderful Joycean materials read and performed by David Norris of Dublin and the James Joyce Center. Not to be missed!
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Vestatile and Intelligent, March 1, 2000
The McNeil tapes are an invaluable tool in the teaching of high school English. I have used the tapes in several segments of my American Literature class to introduce topics which are difficult to otherwise grasp. For a unit on etymology, the series forms an excellent discussion of the roots of English and how language changes over time and through political, social and cultural influences. The "Black on White" segment provides a scholarly discussion of black English and allows the speakers of Gullah and Plantation Creole to demonstrate the roots of vernacular black English. That discussion of dialect is a wonderful introduction to Zora Neale Hurston's, Their Eyes Were Watching God, much of which is written in turn of the century Floridian dialect. These films are an investment well worth making.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A product worthy of being available on DVD!
This is an informative and engaging series that was brilliantly done in 1986. It traces the evolution of the English language. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Eileen Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Gourmet" Meal of Entertainment
The opening begins with an Alitalia flight seeking landing instructions for Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome. Read more
Published on June 8, 2007 by !Edwin C. Pauzer

5.0 out of 5 stars DVD, please. I'll take two.
Fascinating and fun. I found the partner book in a used book store, and it, too, is excellent. Even though the program is not au courant, it's a terrific educator for everyone,... Read more
Published on July 6, 2006 by Michele LuValle

5.0 out of 5 stars Great show
I was recently reminded of seeing this series when it was on PBS... and I've got to say it was impressive. Read more
Published on May 15, 2006 by Craig Schenk

5.0 out of 5 stars SO GREAT!
A month or two ago, my AP English teacher played us one of the videos to this series. Considering the content and the fact that this is a somewhat old documentary, I had very low... Read more
Published on December 12, 2005 by E. Becker

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another plea for the DVD
Another gem in the rich ocean of PBS-produced series. I recently watched this again for the first time in many years (took it out of my public library, a wonderful source for... Read more
Published on December 2, 2005 by A viewer

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
This is one of the most interesting, thought provoking, and fascinating programs that I have seen in many, many years. Read more
Published on January 8, 2005 by guilbecca

2.0 out of 5 stars Educational, but racist
We watched "Black and White", the tape on Old English to modern English and "Muvver Tongue" in an upper level English linguistics class. Read more
Published on May 1, 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A bit dated, but good educational material.
We have watched most of this series in my History of the English Language class, a master's level class. While it is a bit dated, it is still good material. Read more
Published on April 15, 2003 by M. Karapcik

4.0 out of 5 stars If only it were not a continuing story.
I find that 4-5 of the 9 programs still play well with students. But remember that this series was done before AIDS, computer mice, the laptop explosion, Ebonics and Spanglish,... Read more
Published on March 11, 2001 by Samuel Chell

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