Why Is English Like That?: Historical Answers to Hard ELT Questions (Michigan Teacher Training (Paperback)) Illustrated Edition

Saw it at the library and just had to have my own copy. Now I can annotate to my heart's content. I also arrived a few days early. That was cool.

I haven't been this excited about a book since I read "Everything is Illuminated." And this one is non-fiction!! This well-written, extremely detail-filled book is an English teachers' dream come true. It not only gives us clear and fascinating answers to all the difficult questions students ask about our crazy language: the weird spelling, myriad vocabulary, irregular verbs, etc, but it even has reproducible lessons at the back of each chapter. Filled with marvelous statistics and readable charts, it's the first non-fiction book I have ever read, cover to cover. It will be an asset and joy to teacher and student and a great read for any curious soul. Hooray!!!

I had to get this for school but it became one of my favorites. It is very interesting how English has evolved.

Linguistics is not everyone's chosen light reading, but "Why is English Like That?" is a great introduction to both the history and linguistic characteristics of our language. Anyone puzzled by the illogic of irregular verbs, our horrific spelling, or why there seem to be two words for everything in English (not true, but it sometimes feels that way) would find enlightenment a simple and enjoyable task with this book.

This is an awesome book.

Book was in perfect shape and timing was correct. I'll do it again someday soon. always happy with new books.

It is helpful and interesting.

Teachers and instructors are often faced with questions from English language learners that are difficult to answer because the English language is a living language that has developed over time, and not always in a logical manner. Sometimes the correct answers do not turn on knowing formal rules of English, but rather require a teacher or instructor to have an understanding of the history and development of English. This book provides teachers and instructors with a historical perspective of the English language to help them be better able to handle some of the difficult questions that their English language learners may ask.The authors provide an introductory chapter on the importance of the English language as a global language, and a concluding chapter that asks questions about the future of the English language. But, the heart and substance of the book are the chapters on: (1) a brief history of the English language; (2) English grammar; (3) English vocabulary; (4) the sounds of English; (5) the spelling of English; and (6) different forms of English around the world. Those six substantive chapters: (a) introduce some basic concepts from linguistics; (b) discuss the topics from a historical perspective, and give examples of how various aspects of the English language have developed and changed over time; (c) identify how the topics discussed have application to English language teaching; and (d) suggest classroom activities that English language teachers and instructors can use to cover the topics with their students.The book is a technical work written for teachers and instructors teaching English, not English language learners. The book could be a useful reference book that teachers and instructors might use to get background information and ideas to help them formulate informative answers to questions from English language learners that require some understanding and appreciation of the historical development of the English language. The book is too technical for casual reading, but too basic and introductory for readers interested in a detailed exploration of the history and development of the English language.Readers interested in more a detailed discussion of the history and development of the English language should consider taking a look at the following books: Albert C. Baugh & Thomas Cable,  A History of the English Language ; and Lynda Mugglestone,  The Oxford History of English .

EFL/ESLの教師を対象に平易な書かれた英語史の入門書である。長い年月を経て英語の文法、英語の語彙、英語の音声、英語のスペリングがどのような理由でどのような変化を遂げてきたのか述べられ、世界英語、英語の将来についての言及もある。本書を読み終えれば、なぜ「夜」はniteでなくnight なのか、なぜ英語には「賢い」をいうのにintelligent, cleaver, astute, brightといったシノニムが多いのか、こういった疑問に自ずと答えられる力がついていることになる。なにぶん発行年が2006年なので世界英語、英語の将来についての言及は少しまどろっこしく感じるかもしれない。しかし発行年から10年たった現在著者の記述が正鵠を射ているか否かを考えるいい材料になろう。