An Introduction to the Study of African Languages (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Carl Meinhof

9780365243687: An Introduction to the Study of African Languages (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 036524368X ISBN 13: 9780365243687

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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Discover how scholars study African languages—from sounds to structure, with practical methods and real-world examples.

This nonfiction work explores the theory and method behind philology, showing how linguists collect data, deduce grammar, and build grammars and dictionaries. It compares African languages with classical tongues to reveal how sound systems, grammar, and writing interact in speech, everyday use, and historical development. Rich with examples from Ewe, Swahili, Somali, and beyond, the book builds a clear picture of how languages evolve and how researchers approach them in the field.

Learn the step‑by‑step process of language study: collection, grammatical sketches, texts, then full grammars and dictionaries.
See how tone, pitch, and stress work in different language families, and how these features shape meaning.
Explore how linguistic boundaries map onto geography and culture, including the roles of trade, migration, and contact.
Understand how morphology and syntax differ across African languages and what this means for linguistic theory.

Ideal for readers curious about language science, field methods, and the history of African linguistics, this edition offers a rigorous, accessible introduction.

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