David Crystal - St John Gospel

DVDs

The future of language, three lectures with accompanying book (London: Routledge, 2009); 9780415484909.

David Crystal's Introduction to Language (London: Routledge, 2011); 9780415602679.

A comprehensive framework for language study. (Devon County Council Curriculum Services: Media Education Centre, 2003).

A-level primers I: 1 English – the global language; 2 Accents and dialects; 3 Playing with language; 4 Being pragmatic about pragmatics; 5 Language and ICT. (Devon County Council Curriculum Services: Media Education Centre, 2003).

A-level primers II: 1 The importance of grammar; 2 Tone of voice; 3 Language and literature; 4 Child language acquisition; 5 The death of languages. (Devon County Council Curriculum Services: Media Education Centre, 2003).

Beyond Babel

David Crystal acted as series consultant and is a major contributor to the television series Beyond Babel. Completed in 1991, it remains the only television series to take an in-depth look at the way in which English is being adopted and adapted around the world and how its tremendous rate of growth is driven by trade, culture, politics, and technology. The series also explores the impact of this globalization on endangered languages and the relationship of English with its other major linguistic competitors.

Beyond Babel was filmed in the USA, Japan, China, India, South Africa, and Europe, with contributions from a wide range of international personalities. It has been broadcast in 62 countries. Beyond Babel is now available on DVD with additional sequences, interactive menus, and multi-language options. Full details of the DVD are given on the Beyond Babel website, and copies may be purchased from the online shop.

CD The St John Gospel

David Crystal has been presenting evenings of literary readings for over 25 years. He has often included selections of biblical extracts on these occasions, but this recording, made in 2000, is the first time he has presented a Gospel at such length. The text has been condensed to allow for a more fluid reading and to enable it to fit into an evening's performance. It is taken from the Jerusalem Bible, one of the most widely used translations today, as that version has a contemporary tone and intelligibility which make it particularly suitable for a dramatic reading. The performance also makes use of music - extracts from Handel, Monteverdi, Faure, Tavener, and other composers - to counterpoint the words. This is partly to give the listener a break. As David explains. 'The Gospel is quite long, and even though I've split the version I'm presenting into two halves, each half is still about an hour, and it would be hard for people to listen continuously for such a time. The music helps to break the text up - as well as being a source of great beauty in its own right.'
The cover photograph was taken during an evening performance at the Ucheldre Centre in Holyhead.

Copies of the double-CD (TRF CD407) are available from

Ucheldre Centre, Millbank, Holyhead, Wales, UK, LL65 1TE

price £18.00 plus postage and packing [typically £1.50 UK, £2.50 USA]

All major credit cards accepted.

All profits from the sale of this CD go to the Ucheldre Centre, a registered charity.

Contact by e-mail box-office@ucheldre.org, or tel 00 44 (0)1407 763361

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