Now in a cheaper paperback edition, which makes classroom use possible!
Vær godt udrustet til Almen Sprogforståelse! A fascinating and entertaining book with lots of inspiration for the teacher about the interaction of English with other languages. Melvyn Bragg shows us the remarkable story of the English language: from its beginnings as a minor guttural Germanic dialect to its position today as a truly global language — embracing elements of Latin, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Hindi and Gullah. English is democratic, ever-changing and ingenious in its assimilation of other cultures. English runs through the heart of world finance, medicine and the Internet. English is understood by around two thousand million people across the world. This is a story of power, religion and trade, but also the story of people, and how their day-to-day lives shaped an extraordinary language. (354 pages)
Level: A/B/Linjefag/Inspiration til Almen Sprogforståelse

The British Isles are home to a vast range of different languages and dialects. Language continues to evolve rapidly, in its diversity, in the number and the backgrounds of its speakers, and in the repercussions it has had for political and educational affairs. This book provides a comprehensive survey of the languages and dialects used in the British Isles. Topics covered include the history of English; the relationship between Standard and Non-Standard Englishes; the major non-standard varieties spoken on the islands; the history of multilingualism; and the educational and planning implications of linguistic diversity in the British Isles. Among the many dialects and languages surveyed by the volume are British Black English, Celtic languages, Chinese, Indian, European migrant languages, British Sign Language, and Angloromani. This is a clear and accessible guide. Author: David Britain. Warmly recommended! (508 pages)
Level: Library/Depot — an inspiration and resource for gymnasium English teachers/Almen Sprogforståelse/Linjefag

Contents: Part I. English: 1. History of English; 2. Standard and non-standard English; 3. Phonological variation in England; 4. Grammatical variation in England; 5. Scottish English and Scots; 6. Northern Irish English; 7. Southern Irish English; 8. English in Wales; 9. English on the Isle of Man; 10. English in the Channel Islands; Part II. The Celtic Languages: 11. The history of the Celtic languages in the British Isles; 12. Gaelic; 13. Irish; 14. Welsh; Part III. Other Languages of the British Isles: 15. Multilingualism; 16. Caribbean creoles and Black English; 17. Indic languages; 18. Chinese; 19. European immigrant languages; 20. Sign languages; 21. Channel Island French; 22. Angloromani; Part IV. Applied Sociolinguistic Issues: 23. Language policy and planning; 24. Non-standard English and education; 25. Education and languages other than English.

With his usual wit and insight, Bill Bryson explores the history, eccentricities, resilience and fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog can’t), Bryson tells the story of how the inadequate, second-rate tongue of peasants developed into the world's leading global language. Along the way he explains how the words from over fifty other languages have ended up in your English dictionary; he explores the countless varieties of English ... and looks at the oddities of swearing and spelling. (270 pages)
Level: A great resource for any English teacher. At the very least it will make your teaching much more entertaining!

Contents: The World’s Language — The Dawn of Language — Global Language — The First Thousand Words — Where Words Come From — Pronunciation — Varieties of English — Spelling — Good English and Bad — Order Out of Chaos — Old World, New World — English as a World Language — Names — Swearing — Wordplay — The Future of English