Abstract
In this book we have followed the English language throughout its history over a period of some 1,500 years. It’s a remarkable story: from a Germanic embryo came a small insular language, which in time grew into a world language. So what will happen to English now? Will there be many Englishes, or just one? Will the international use and learning of English continue to grow? Or will other languages take its place? It is difficult to predict the future of languages — some would say impossible. But at least we can examine the linguistic situation as it is developing today and try to make informed speculations about the future.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
T. S. Eliot, Four Quartets (1943)
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Svartvik, J., Leech, G. (2016). English into the Future. In: English. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-16007-2_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-16007-2_13
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-137-55021-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-16007-2
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