Amazon.com description: Product Description: This is the first reference grammar of Old English to be published for more than a quarter of a century. The first of a two-part contribution to Old English phonology and morphology, it is designed to take account of major recent developments both in the field of Old English studies and in linguistic theory. In the field of Old English by far the greatest advance has been the Dictionary of Old English project in Toronto. This has enabled a much wider range of data to be checked and assessed than has previously been the case, and A Grammar of Old English has taken full advantage of this possibility. In order to assist the reader there are full cross-references to the Dictionary data, and items which are not in the Toronto Microfiche Concordance are specially indicated. In linguistic theory the most obvious developments have been associated with generative linguistics, but phonemic theory and related topics have also become so sophisticated that they can be used freely. A Grammar of Old English uses such theoretical developments fully, as well as providing material which could be crucial for future research both in diachronic and synchronic phonology and in historical sociolinguistics. A Grammar of Old English will become an essential tool not merely for students of Old English, but also for all those interested in the history of the English language and for historical linguists generally. Volume II: Morphology (0-631-13671-1) in preparation.