The State of the Language : English Observed

London England: Hamish Hamilton. Fine/Near Fine. 1984. First Edition. Cloth. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall 0241113466 Harback Hardback. Price clipped to D/J. What is happening to the English language? The author examines the language in its various branches and categories, such as grammar and pronunciation, spelling and punctuation, dialect and slang. He asks whether it is changing as fast as we suppose and if so why. he discusses the effect that the new technoligies of communication, from cable television to photocomposition, atre having on the mother tongue. he explores the new dialects that are coming into the language, from the peculiar correctitude of Indian English-speakers to the peculiar liveliness (of courseness, of you want a pejorative judgement) of Australian-speakers. He navigates the back streets of euphemism and the broad, boring boulevards of cliche. He discusses the origins and meanings of the latest vogue slang, from the yaa talk of Sloane Rangers and Preppies, to the obdurate surivial and reinvigoration of Cockney rhyming slang, even though the new housing estates and immigation have broken up the old heartland of Cockneydom. 180 pp. (We carry a wide selection of titles in The Arts, Theology, History, Politics, Social and Physical Sciences. academic and scholarly books and Modern First Editions etc.). .