The Story of English

1986    60mDocumentary
8.8
A work of profound scholarship and powerful storytelling from host Robert MacNeil, this classic nine-part PBS series remains one of the great narratives of linguistic studies-and is now available on digitally re-mastered, menu-driven DVD. Steeped in history, geography, sociology, and political drama, The Story of English has little to do with dictionaries, official documents, or highbrow.

Where to Watch The Story of English

1 Season

  • Season 1
    Season 19 Episodes

Cast of The Story of English

  • Robert MacNeilSelf - Presenter / Writer
  • J.L. DillardSelf - Creole Linguist
  • Alistair CookeSelf - Writer and Broadcaster
  • Siaka StevensSelf - President, Sierra Leone
  • Michael HordernBible Readings
  • Randolph QuirkSelf - President, British Academy
  • Christopher PageSelf - Old English Reader
  • Stanley RobertsonSelf - Scottish Storyteller
  • Benjamin BligenSelf - Speaker of Gullah English
  • Chris RoseSelf - Agriculturist, Papua New Guinea
  • John HenrySelf - Irish Seanchaí (Storyteller)
  • George BonnerSelf - Market Stall Holder
  • Penny DownieSelf - Self
  • Seamus HeaneySelf - Poet
  • Robert BurchfieldSelf - Editor, Oxford English Dictionary
  • Janie HunterSelf - Speaker of Gullah English
  • Bob BarltropSelf - Local Historian and Author of 'The Muvver Tongue'
  • Jack ChambersSelf - Linguist
  • The Medieval PlayersSelf - Actors in 'Mankind'
  • Willie RossSelf - Burns Society
  • Richard BebbSelf - Chaucer Reader
  • Clifford PaulSelf - Traffic Supervisor, St Lawrence Seaway
  • Jim WolveridgeSelf - East End Bookseller and Author of 'The Muvver Tongue'
  • Braj KachruSelf - University of Illinois
  • Gerald Maitland-CarewSelf - Thirlestane Castle
  • Pat LinneyEnglish Poet
  • Mary TammSelf - Chaucer Reader
  • John BartonSelf - Royal Shakespeare Director
  • Sean DufraynerEnglish Linguist
  • Martha DeWeeseSelf - Middleton Plantation
  • Fraser AitkenSelf - Minister of Scottish Kirk, Girvan
  • P. LalSelf - Writers' Workshop, Calcutta
  • John WellsSelf - Phonetician and Linguist
  • Eldred JonesSelf - Compiler of Krio-English Dictionary
  • Ron CarrollSelf - Lock-Master, St Lawrence Seaway
  • Tommy HosfordSelf - Master Brewer, Murphy's Brewer
  • Henry NeilsonSelf - Gold Prospector
  • Martin SivenerSelf - Friesian Speaker
  • Mary SheppardSelf - Middleton Plantation
  • John BernardSelf - Australian Linguist
  • Frank WhiteSelf - Horse Trainer, Ballymena
  • Michael GarfieldSelf - Sugar Cane Cutter
  • Stanley EllisSelf - Linguist
  • Winston DanielSelf - Sugar Cane Cutter
  • Richard StoneySelf - Estate Owner
  • Jean la RueSelf - Breton Speaker
  • Rory O'ConnorSelf - Murphy's Brewery
  • George HawkerSelf - Bungaree Sheep Station Farmer
  • Sammy WhiteSelf - Horse Trainer, Ballymena
  • Dave ElliotSelf - Gold Prospector
  • Peter HallSelf - Director of National Theatre
  • Henry ConynghamSelf - Lord Henry, Earl of Mount Charles
  • William SafireSelf - New York Times
  • George ShaussSelf - Cowboy
  • Albert MurraySelf - Jazz Historian
  • Eddie EdghillSelf - Sugar Plantation Owner
  • Joan HawkerSelf - Bungaree Sheep Station Farmer
  • Ronnie DaviesSelf - Welsh Speaker
  • Alec MillerSelf - Farmer, Ballymena
  • Moon Unit ZappaSelf
  • Garry HynesSelf - Director, 'The Playboy of the Western World'
  • Jean BellSelf - Cowboy
  • Jim BakerSelf - Plimoth Plantation Museum
  • John BraidwoodSelf - Dictionary of Ulster English
  • Rob BrownSelf - Yacht Skipper
  • Eluned PhillipsSelf - Writer and Twice Winner of National Eisteddfod of Wales
  • Mervyn MorrisSelf - Creole Linguist
  • Horace WilliamsSelf - Shoeshine Man
  • Barry HumphriesDame Edna Everage
  • Tom AmmianoSelf - Gay Stand-Up Comedian
  • David NorrisSelf - Joyce Scholar, Trinity College, Dublin
  • Len TraversSelf - Plimoth Plantation Museum
  • Hubert DevonishSelf - Creole Linguist
  • John FottSelf - University of Pennsylvania
  • Edwin GeorgeSelf - West Country Forest Ranger
  • Manny OctavianoSelf - Italian American
  • Gloria SteinemSelf - Editor, Ms Magazine
  • Leo RostenSelf - Writer and Yiddish Historian
  • Wilson GoodeSelf - Mayor of Philadelphia
  • Clifford ArbonSelf - East Anglian Dialect Speaker
  • Willard WatsonSelf - Appalachian Farmer and Maker of Moonshine
  • Seamus DeaneSelf - Writer
  • Irwin BielbySelf - Yorkshire Dialect Speaker
  • Alan MorrisSelf - Mojo Advertising Agency
  • Edward BrathwaiteSelf - Jamaican Poet
  • Thomas Alan ShippeySelf - Scholar of Middle and Old English Literature
  • Manny LenkovskySelf - Jewish New York Furrier
  • Harry MarksSelf - Graphic Designer
  • Cratis WilliamsSelf - Appalachian Historian
  • Reg SillockSelf - East Anglian Dialect Speaker
  • Peter MartinSelf - Sergeant, New York Police
  • Constance ClaytonSelf - Philadelphia Board of Education
  • Desmond JohnsonSelf - Dub Poet
  • Kathy LetteSelf - Author
  • Carl RosendahlSelf - Computer Animator
  • Mohammed AjeebSelf - Mayor of Bradford
  • Michael ClanchySelf - Scholar of Old English
  • Ray HicksSelf - Appalachian Farmer
  • Paddy MolloySelf - IRA Republican Activist
  • Arthur SpiersSelf - Linguist
  • Kuan Yew LeeSelf - Prime Minister, Singapore
  • Graham WilliamsSelf - Hand-Printer
  • Ananda LalSelf - Teacher of Indian English
  • Rosie HicksSelf - Appalachian Farmer
  • B.K. YapSelf - Shipyard Manager
  • Wayne MoroniSelf - Truck Driver
  • Riva MoroniSelf - Truck Driver
  • Lee Sow LingSelf - English Language Consultant, The Straits Times
  • John MacDonaldSelf - Scots Gaelic Speaker, Barra
  • Kate FlowerSelf - Presenter, 'Follow Me'
  • H.C. NarangSelf - Nehru University, Delhi
  • Colin MacInnesSelf - Priest and Scots Gaelic Speaker, Barra
  • John NorthcoteSelf - Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment
  • Calum KeaneSelf - Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment
  • Vivian DucatDirector
  • William CranDirector / Producer
  • Howard ReidDirector
  • John PettDirector
  • Peter DaleDirector
  • David SouthDirector
  • Robert McCrumWriter

 

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