How English evolved with a Victorian txt msg written B4 mobiles

The first exhibition on the history of the English language will include Victorian texting, the first printed book in English and a lecture on swearing from one of the writers of The Thick of It.

The British Library show will explore popular sayings and slang in a survey that stretches from the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf to hip hop via a book on How to Write Love Letters.

There will also be live performances of Shakespeare in hip hop style - from London rapper Akala, the younger brother of Ms Dynamite.

Paul Merton will host a live recording at the library of the BBC Radio 4 word game Just A Minute and there will be talks and events from American writer Garrison Keillor and impressionist Alistair McGowan.

Ian Martin is the writer from TV satire The Thick of It who will speak on bad language.

David Crystal, author of an accompanying book, said the exhibition was a first and only the British Library had the resources to do it. He said: "No exhibition anywhere has ever been devoted to the entire history and present-day global use of the English language." In Gleanings from the Harvest-Fields of Literature by Charles C Bombaugh in 1867, a poem called Essay to Miss Catherine Jay includes the phrase "I wrote 2 U B 4" - generations before the invention of text messaging.

Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices, November 12 until April 3 2011. Admission free. bl.uk/whatson