Language History, Language Change, and Language Relationship: An Introduction to Historical and Comparative Linguistics (Mouton Textbook) - Softcover

Hock, Hans Henrich; Joseph, Brian D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 311060969X ISBN 13: 9783110609691

Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton, 2019

Synopsis

Why does language change? Why can we speak to and understand our parents but have trouble reading Shakespeare? Why is Chaucer's English of the fourteenth century so different from Modern English of the late twentieth century that the two are essentially different languages? Why are Americans and English 'one people divided by a common language'? And how can the language of Chaucer and Modern English - or Modern British and American English - still be called the same language? The present book provides answers to questions like these in a straightforward way, aimed at the non-specialist, with ample illustrations from both familiar and more exotic languages.

Most chapters in this new edition have been reworked, with some difficult passages removed, other passages thoroughly rewritten, and several new sections added, e.g. on the regularity of sound change and its importance for general historical-comparative linguistics. Further, the chapter notes and bibliography have all been updated.

The content is engaging, focusing on topics and issues that spark student interest. Its goals are broadly pedagogical and the level and presentation are appropriate for interested beginners with little or no background in linguistics. The language coverage for examples goes well beyond what is usual for books of this kind, with a considerable amount of data from various languages of India.

About this title

About the Author:

Hans Henrich Hock, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA; Brian D. Joseph, Ohio State University, USA.

About this edition

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 311060969X
• ISBN 13: 9783110609691
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 575