author : Natalie Schilling

This is the course guidebook that accompanies the 12 lecture “Great Course” of the same name. It is essentially an abbreviated transcript of each lecture, a few pictures, and some related reading. (I watched the lectures, which is what I am reviewing here, and am using the book simply as an aide-memoire.)

This provides a history of the development and divergence of the English language in the USA, from the country’s beginnings to the present day. There is discussion of different dialects arising because of the different sources of British English and other languages that they developed from, and discussion of how these dialects have been viewed with different levels of acceptance or disdain over the years.

Schilling is careful to explain that a dialect is not incorrect English, but rather a different form of English with its own grammar and vocabulary. She also explains why, despite influxes of non English speakers to the country, American English is not under threat, but is alive and thriving.