A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. Latham

"A Handbook of the English Language" by R. G. Latham is an academic and linguistic study written in the mid-19th century. The book provides an analysis of the English language, exploring its historical and ethno-linguistic origins, dialects, and evolution over time. It particularly details the Germanic roots of English, alongside its interactions with Celtic and classical languages, making it a valuable resource for students and scholars of linguistics and English literature. At the start of this handbook, the author emphasizes that the English language does not originate from the British Isles but instead has its roots in the Germanic languages of continental Europe. Latham highlights significant waves of migration and settlement by Germanic tribes, such as the Jutes, Saxons, and Angles, into Britain, outlining their roles in shaping the English language. He also discusses the historical accounts of these migrations, noting the challenges in verifying early records, thus prompting readers to consider the complexities of linguistic heritage and the gradual integration of various dialects and languages that have influenced modern English. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon), 1812-1888
Title A Handbook of the English Language
Credits Produced by Colin Bell, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This
file was produced from images generously made available
by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Reading Level Reading ease score: 64.5 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Language English
LoC Class PE: Language and Literatures: English
Subject English language -- Grammar
Subject English language -- History
Category Text
eBook-No. 28436
Release Date
Last Update Jan 4, 2021
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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