Standard English and the Politics of Language

TONY CROWLEY was born and grew up in Liverpool. He has taught at the Universities of Oxford, Southampton, Rutgers, Barcelona and San Diego. He is currently Professor of English at the University of Manchester. His publications include Proper English?, Language in History and The Politics of Language in Northern Ireland.

• Preface Acknowledgement Introduction A History of 'The History of the Language' Archbishop Trench's Theory of Language: The Tractatus Theologico-Politicus The Standard Language: The Literary Language The Standard Language: The Language of the Literate Theorising the Standard: Jones and Wyld Language Against Modernity Continuities: Past and Present Conclusion: Further Confusion: Kingman, Cox, The National Curriculum and After Notes Bibliography of Works Consulted Index

Review of previous edition:'...a great work of demythologisation, which puts the concept of standard English in its proper historical perspective...a book which every teacher of English in the country should read.' Professor Roy Harris, University of OxfordReview of this edition:'Crowley demythologizes 'standard English' as a marker of uniformity, neutrality, and the one language of truth...One strength of these core chapters is that Crowley positions opposing views/theories in interesting ways in an attempt to offer some balance in prespective...By the end...[he] has successfully woven an historical tapestry of parallel, yet interesting discourses to reveal that every time the question of language surfaces...it means that a series of problems are coming to the fore.' - Marina Engelking, Language Awareness