Progress in Language

First published in 1894, Progress in Language was authored by the Danish linguist Otto Jespersen during a period of significant transition in the study of historical linguistics. Jespersen intended this work to challenge the rigid neo-grammarian view of language evolution, arguing instead that linguistic change is a process of rational simplification rather than mere decay. His focus on the development of syntax and the analytical tendencies of the English language marked a departure from the purely phonetic studies common in the late nineteenth century.

The 1993 edition published by John Benjamins serves as an academic reprint, ensuring the availability of Jespersen's foundational theories for modern scholars of syntax and linguistic history. The design and presentation reflect a commitment to preserving the scholarly integrity of Jespersen's original arguments, which have remained influential in structuralist linguistics. While the work received varied critiques upon its initial release for its radical stance against then-prevailing methodologies, it is now recognized as a seminal text that helped define the analytical study of English grammar.