The Comparative Method Reviewed: Regularity and Irregularity in Language Change

Durie, Mark & Malcolm Ross Eds.

ISBN 10: 0195066073 / ISBN 13: 9780195066074

Published by Oxford Univ Press, 1996

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 23059

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Comparative Method Reviewed: Regularity and Irregularity in Language Change
• Publisher: Oxford Univ Press
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195066073
• ISBN 13: 9780195066074
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Linguistics, Reference, Social Sciences

About this title

Synopsis

Historical reconstruction of languages relies on the comparative method, which itself depends on the notion of the regularity of change. The regularity of sound change is the famous Neogrammarian Hypothesis: "sound change takes place according to laws that admit no exception." The comparative method, however, is not restricted to the consideration of sound change, and neither is the assumption of regularity. Syntactic, morphological, and semantic change are all amenable in varying degrees, to comparative reconstruction, and each type of change is constrained in ways that enable the researcher to distinguish between regular and more irregular changes.

This volume draws together studies by scholars engaged in historical reconstruction, all focussing on the subject of regularity and irregularity in the comparative method. A wide range of languages are represented, including Chinese, Germanic, and Austronesian.

About the Author

Mark Durie is at University of Melbourne. Malcolm Ross is at Australian National University.