THE DYNAMICS OF LINGUISTIC VARIATION. CORPUS EVIDENCE ON ENGLISH PAST AND PRESENT [HARDBACK]

NEVALAINEN, T. & AL., EDS.

ISBN 10: 9027234825 / ISBN 13: 9789027234827

Published by BENJAMINS, JOHN, AMSTERDAM, 2008

About this Item

NEVALAINEN, T. & AL., EDS.: THE DYNAMICS OF LINGUISTIC VARIATION. CORPUS EVIDENCE ON ENGLISH PAST AND PRESENT [HARDBACK]. AMSTERDAM, 2008, viii 339 p. , 780 gr. Encuadernacion original. Nuevo. (LI-1-2) 780 gr.

Seller Inventory # 458349

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE DYNAMICS OF LINGUISTIC VARIATION. CORPUS EVIDENCE ON ENGLISH PAST AND PRESENT [HARDBACK]
• Publisher: BENJAMINS, JOHN, AMSTERDAM
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9027234825
• ISBN 13: 9789027234827
• Binding: Tapa dura
• Condition: New
• Weight: 780 grams
• Book Type: Libro
• Seller catalogs:
  • Linguistica

About this title

Synopsis

Variability is characteristic of any living language. This volume approaches the ‘life cycle’ of linguistic variability in English using data sources that range from electronic corpora to the internet. In the spirit of the 1968 Weinreich, Labov and Herzog classic, the fifteen contributions divide into three sections, each highlighting different stages in the dynamics of English across time and space. They show, first, how increase in variability can be initiated by processes that give rise to new patterns of discourse, which can ultimately crystallize into new grammatical elements. The next phase is the spread of linguistic features and patterns of discourse, both new and well established, through the social and regional varieties of English. The final phase in this ebb and flow of linguistic variability consists of processes promoting some variable features over others across registers and regional and social varieties, thus resulting in reduced variation and increased linguistic homogeneity.