The handbook English Historical Linguistics offers in more than 130 articles in two volumes a comprehensive, interdisciplinary and theory neutral overview of all central aspects of the history of English.

The first volume contains detailed descriptions of the individual linguistic levels, from phonology to syntax, semantics and pragmatics, for each period of the language, from Old English to Late Modern English. Moreover, the volume offers chapters on particular topics pertaining to individual periods such as the 'Great Vowel Shift', standardization, and do-periphrasis.

Die Reihe HANDBUCHER ZUR SPRACH- UND KOMMUNIKATIONSWISSENSCHAFT erschliet einen Wissensbereich, der sowohl die allgemeine Linguistik und die speziellen, philologisch orientierten Sprachwissenschaften als auch diejenigen Wissenschaftsgebiete umfasst, die sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten aus der immer umfangreicher werdenden Forschung uber die vielfaltigen Erscheinungen des kommunikativen Handelns entwickelt haben.

In der klassischen Disziplin der Sprachwissenschaft erscheint eine Zusammenfassung des Wissensstandes notwendig, um der im Wechsel der Theorien rasch voranschreitenden...

The basis for this additional volume are the three volumes of the handbooks Dictionaries. An International Encyclopedia of Lexicography (HSK 5.1-5.3), published between 1989 and 1991. An updating has been perceived as an important desideratum for a considerable time. In the present Supplementary Volume the premises and subjects of HSK 5.1-5.3 are complemented by new articles that take account of the practice-internal and theoretical developments of the last 15 years. Special attention has been given to the following topics: the status and function of lexicographic reference works,...