Items related to Language change: Progress or decay? (Universe introductions...
Synopsis
Why do people sometimes leave off the ends of words when they speak? Is it sloppiness, progress, or inevitable erosion? This book attempts to answer such questions by giving a lucid and up-to-date overview of language change. It discusses where our evidence about language change comes from, how and why changes happen, and how and why languages begin and end. It considers not only changes which occurred many years ago, but also those currently in progress. It does this within the framework of one central question - is language change a symptom of progress or decay? It concludes that language is neither progressing nor decaying, but that an understanding of the factors causing change is essential for anyone involved with language alteration. For this substantially revised and enlarged second edition Jean Aitchison has included details of recent research on a number of key topics, and also discusses data from a wider variety of languages: but the work remains non-technical in style and accessible to the reader with no previous knowledge of linguistics.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Book Description
This book gives a lucid and up-to-date overview of language change, discussing where our evidence about language change comes from, how and why changes happen, and how languages begin and end. It considers both changes which occurred long ago, and those currently in progress. This substantially revised third edition includes two new chapters on change of meaning and grammaticalization. New sections have also been added as well as over 150 new references. The work remains non-technical in style and accessible to the reader with no previous knowledge of linguistics.
Review
'The book is a very good and readable introduction to the discipline of historical linguistics and covers a very large number of questions.' The Linguist
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Search results for Language change: Progress or decay? (Universe introductions...
Stock Image
Language change: Progress or decay? (Universe introductions to linguistics)
Seller: Alplaus Books, Alplaus, NY, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. Ex-library hardbound. Pages unmarked. .5" tear through cloth to boards at cover edge, else gentle wear. Seller Inventory # 38456
Quantity: 1 available