A Dictionary of Modern English Usage.

Second Edition revised by Sir Ernest Gowers. Oxford, at the Clarendon Press 1978, cm.12,5x19, pp.XX,(2),725,(3), legatura ed.in t.tel, titoli e impress. in oro al dorso, sopraccop.fig. (strappetto di 3 cm. alla sopraccoperta).

Redattore R.Evers. Realizzato dal Centro Lessicografico Sansoni sotto la direz.di Vladimiro Macchi. II ediz.con supplemento. Firenze, Sansoni 1978, cm.18x25, pp.XVI,833, legatura editoriale cartonata, sopraccoperta.

Cambridge University Press 2000, cm.14x21,5, pp.300, brossura con copertina figurata a colori. The English Language: A Historical Introduction covers the history of the English language from its prehistoric Indo-European origins to the present day. Assuming no previous knowledge of the subject, Charles Barber describes the nature of language and language change, and presents a history of the English language at different periods, dealing with key topics such as grammar, pronunciation and semantics. Where necessary, he introduces and explains the main theoretical and technical concepts of historical linguistics. There are also chapters on English in the scientific age, English as a world language and the future of the language. Charles Barber uses dozens of familiar texts, including the English of King Alfred, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Addison, to illustrate the state of the English language through time in a range of contexts. This is a fascinating book for anyone with an interest in language.