Origins and Development of the English Language (edition 1982)

The best ( )

The classic treatment and very readable. ( )

A standard history of English language textbook that emphasizes the technical development moreso than the historical context (see Baugh and Cable text). An accompanying worktext is extremely valuable for students to understand new and somewhat complex data. One remarkable disappointment in this edition is the absence of an index of any kind. Instead, Algeo provides a glossary of sorts that seems of limited value.