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The English Language

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The English Language

  1. Languages & Dialects based on English :
    • Constructed Human Languages
      Information on, and links to, constructed languages listed under headings - fictional, artistic, historical.
    • Dialects :
      • Aussie English CD, The
        You can buy the CD [quite reasonable]. Access multimedia excerpts from it.
      • new !Aussie English for the Beginner
        [Both Flash and HTML formats]
        ‘Australian English has developed a rich and distinct vocabulary that some would say reflects our dry wit and occasional wisdom. Explore the origins and meanings of our common Australian words and idioms, and test your knowledge of Australian English.’ From the National Museum of Australia.
      • Australian Slang
        [Babylon]
        ‘Explanation in English of some specific Australian words and expressions.’ Done via alphabetic groupings.
        Well presented !
      • Australia Word Map
        ‘Word Map is mapping Australian regionalisms - words, phrases or expressions used by particular language groups. Add your regionalism or search to see what others have contributed.’ From the Australian Broadcasting Commission [ABC].
      • Dialectizer, The
        Have fun with language. Use online software to translate writing into ‘dialects’ from ‘Cockney’ to ‘Elmer Fudd’.
      • Do You Speak American ?
        An odyssey around the US. Done as part of a PBS program.
      • English Around the World
        Audio files of some English ‘dialects’ from around the world. Yes, we even have a dialect !
      • Language Varieties [English]
        ‘Dialects’ of English from around the world, including Australian Aboriginal.
      • Strine …
        [The World’s Most Advanced Dialect]
        Traces the development of ‘Strine’ and shows comparisons to other versions of English.
      • Surfing for Slang
        [The World’s Cool Slang Link Bank]
        ‘Caution ! Some of the websites below may contain strong and explicit language, so please don’t proceed if you are easily offended.’ Covers from American to Scandinavian slang examples and a variety of countries from around the world.
      • United Kingdom English
        Primarily developed for Americans. Can be used to understand UK expressions and usage while gathering ideas about the US format.
    • Globish
      Pronounced ‘Globe-ish’. The site is in French but there are English based articles listed via the l/h column. The idea is to have a ‘simple, common’ English usage that will help those whose first language is other than English, use it as a common verbal, meeting point.
  2. General Language Information
    Information related to English language studies.
    • Ethnologue, Web Version
      Database of almost 7 000 languages, telling where used, those using it, region and classification. Provides information on language families and codes.
    • Evolution of Alphabets
      Where alphabets came from and how they developed differences. Works with a range of alphabets and their origins.
    • Good English, Bad English
      Links to sites that discuss English including a variety of linguistic aspects.
    • Omniglot - a guide to writing systems
      Information on writing systems including what a writing system is, alphabetic writing systems, syllabic, logographic and alternative writing systems. An A-Z index.
    • Where Do Languages Come From ?
      The development of languages, how they are studied and how they relate to each other.
    • World Wide Words
      ‘1 850+ pieces on language in six sections.’ Covers expressions, their origins, language usage in various situations, topical words, turns of phrase and more. International English from a British viewpoint.
      Highly Recommended !
  3. History of English :
    • Ages of English Timeline
      ‘From a West Saxon dialect to a global phenomenon, from runes to rap, the development of English follows a fascinating trail. Ever wondered how Beowulf sounded ? Why ‘pickleherring’ was one of Johnson’s choice insults ? Explore the ten ages of English in this interactive timeline and find out.’
    • A Brief History of the English Language
      Text presentation with accompanying chronology. Looks at several periods in the development of the English language.
    • English Language History
      A brief summary of major influences and major English speaking countries.
    • English Through The Ages
      How English has changed over time. What it was like using Old or Middle English.
    • History of the English Language [1]
      ‘This site includes a list of links to on-line, worldwide resources for the study of the English language and its history. [Many of these links were discovered by others too numerous to list here ! Thanks.] As well, my students are contributing to an anthology of historical texts representing different genres of English, and an encyclopedia on the cultural history of English.’
    • History of the English Language [2]
      Links to the history of English language from prehistoric times to today. Fascinating.
    • History of the English Language [3]
      [A short history of the origins and development of English]
      Brief text presentation with accompanying chronology.
    • Language Timeline
      ‘The English language is a vast flea market of words, handed down, borrowed or created over more than 2 000 years. And it is still expanding, changing and trading. Our language is not purely English at all - it is a ragbag of diverse words that have come to our island from all around the world. View the chart to get an overview of some of the many chapters in the history of the English language.’ Done in periods from 500BC to the present. Each period includes listings of words added to the language during that time. From the British Library and part of the larger Changing Language site.
    • Middle English :
      • A Concise Dictionary of Middle English
        Downloadable ebook in several formats from Project Gutenberg.
      • Links Page
        A search collection from the Labyrinth project covering a range of material linked to Middle English, including fiction, poetry and other resources.
      • Middle English Pages
        An extensive collection of briefly annotated links to Middle English materials on the web.
    • Old English :
      • Essentials of Old English
        From Glasgow University. Introduction, basic and advanced grammar, a reading list, texts and technical help.
      • Introduction to Old English
        [The Electronic]
        16 chapters and several appendices.
      • Links Page
        A search collection from the Labyrinth project covering a range of material linked to Old English, including fiction, poetry, grammar and other resources.
      • OEME
        ‘From here you can find both Old to Modern and Modern to Old English Dictionaries. Finished Dictionaries are colored green/blue.’ There are also links to Grammar and to Two eBooks in Old English, for you to read.
      • Old English [Calgary University]
        ‘University of Calgary courses in the Old English language and Old English literature constructed by Murray McGillivray.’
      • Old English, English Dictionary
        Old English expressions from æ to yrre. From Websters Online Dictionaries.
      • Old English [University of Virginia]
        ‘This site contains resources for students of Old English at the University of Virginia and elsewhere, including texts and exercises, information about Introduction to Old English, the new textbook by the creator of this web site [with a link to the Free online version], and links to a selection of online resources.’
      • Old English Pages
        ‘Old English. From Georgetown University.’
      • Thesaurus of Old English
        Find words and meaning through a range of search processes. There are also links to Old English and other sources.
    • The Brain Rummager Too
      [The Story of the English Language]
      ‘It gives you a short history of the English language. If you are visiting for the first time, I recommend that you work through the Menu items in numerical order. There are brief summaries of important aspects of the history of English. There are also short extracts from old books. You’ll find comparisons between different versions of English. There are also some surprises. Some of the pages have questions and items for you to think about. If the questions have straightforward answers, you can easily find them lower on the page.’
    • World Wide Words
      The development and use of English. Covers history, evolution and unusual aspects of the language.
  4. Software :
    • English4Today
      Downloadable software or use it online. Fee-based.
    • English Language Glossary Browser
      ‘This Free program provides a large, fully cross-referenced English glossary of linguistic and grammatical terms for all levels from beginner to advanced. Each grammar definition contains an explanation and cross-references to other relevant grammar terms.’
    • English Solutions
      Fee-based, but reasonably priced. Set up to cover all levels of learners.

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