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