Lectures On the English Language

by George Perkins Marsh

First published in 1861, this book is a landmark work in American linguistics. Marsh explores the evolution of the English language, from its Indo-European roots to its modern forms, and offers insights into the cultural and historical forces that shaped its development. He also provides detailed analysis of English grammar and usage, making this a valuable resource for students and scholars of language and literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

712 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1859

About the author

George Perkins Marsh was an American diplomat and philologist and is considered by some to be America's first environmentalist and the precursor to the sustainability concept, although "conservationist" would be more accurate.

Reviews

[Sean Endress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Famed conservationist George Perkins Marsh is also known for his knowledge of the history of the English language, from its historical roots to the direction in which it seems to be heading. He examines our language from all angles, providing historical insight and fresh perspective on ideas that many readers may have taken for granted - the concept of the English language's unique "I", for example.
Marsh demonstrates remarkable intelligence and understanding, but more remarkable than either is his ability to communicate advanced ideas to his readers. "Lectures" is in fact a compendium of collegiate lectures that will regardless be comprehensible to all readers.