A History of English Spelling

Simon Horobin

$200

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Edinburgh University Press
08 July 2025

Sociolinguistics; Historical & comparative linguistics; Writing systems, alphabets; European history; Social & cultural history

Series: Edinburgh Textbooks on the English Language - Advanced

Popularly viewed as eccentric and illogical, dismissed by linguists as fixed and therefore uninteresting, English spelling is the Cinderella of modern linguistics. But it is a complex and fascinating subject. With a rich history of variation, English spelling has much to offer diachronic sociolinguists, while study of its history helps to explain many of today's apparent irregularities. The story of its standardisation, beginning with the advent of the printing press, and the destandardisation currently being witnessed on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, offers new perspectives on how technology drives linguistic change, and reveals fascinating insights into the ways in which variable spelling is being repurposed today. With plenty of exercises, worked examples throughout and a concluding chapter on how to create your own research project, Simon Horobin encourages you to delve into the rich and varied landscape of English spelling.

By: Simon Horobin
Imprint: Edinburgh University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 138mm,
ISBN: 9781399500227
ISBN 10: 1399500228
Series: Edinburgh Textbooks on the English Language - Advanced
Pages: 184
Publication Date: 08 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Simon Horobin is Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford