A short history of English language / Naoki Wright.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

A history of English language -- The contemporary literary theory and criticism -- Approaches to middle English literature -- Shakespeare literature -- Comparative literature and the illusion of multiculturalism -- Restoration literature -- Restoration comedy -- Victorian literature -- Postmodern literature.

"English belongs to the Indo-European family of languages and is there fore related to most other languages spoken in Europe and western Asia from Iceland to India. The parent tongue, called Proto-Indo-European, was spoken about 5,000 years ago by nomads believed to have roamed the southeast European plains. English language, West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family that is closely related to the Frisian, German, and Dutch (in Belgium called Flemish) languages. English originated in England and is the dominant language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is also an official language of India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa. English is the first choice of foreign language in most other countries of the world, and it is that status that has given it the position of a global lingua franca. It is estimated that about a third of the world's population, some two billion persons, now use English. The present book is a comprehensive exploration of the linguistic and cultural development of English, from the Middle Ages to the present day. Balanced and wide-ranging, this book is a must-read for any student studying the history of the English Language." -- Back cover