The Dialect Laboratory: Dialects As a Testing Ground for Theories of Language Change

De Vogelaer, Gunther (Editor)/ Seiler, Guido (Editor)

ISBN 10: 9027205957 / ISBN 13: 9789027205957

Published by John Benjamins Pub Co, 2012

About this Item

297 pages. 9.50x6.50x0.80 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # __9027205957

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Dialect Laboratory: Dialects As a Testing Ground for Theories of Language Change
• Publisher: John Benjamins Pub Co
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9027205957
• ISBN 13: 9789027205957
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.7 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Much theorizing in language change research is made without taking into account dialect data. Yet, dialects seem to be superior data to build a theory of linguistic change on, since dialects are relatively free of standardization and therefore more tolerant of variant competition in grammar. In addition, as compared to most cross-linguistic and diachronic data, dialect data are unusually high in resolution. This book shows that the study of dialect variation has indeed the potential, perhaps even the duty, to play a central role in the process of finding answers to fundamental questions of theoretical historical linguistics. It includes contributions which relate a clearly formulated theoretical question of historical linguistic interest with a well-defined, solid empirical base. The volume discusses phenomena from different domains of grammar (phonology, morphology and syntax) and a wide variety of languages and language varieties in the light of several current theoretical frameworks.