Exploring Language Change

Mari Jones

ISBN 10: 0415317746 / ISBN 13: 9780415317740

Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov 2005, 2005

About this Item

Neuware - This book explores the phenomenon of language change, with a particular focus on the social contexts of its occurrence and its possible motivations, including speakers' intentions and attitudes. Using wide-ranging case studies presenting new or little-known data, Jones and Singh draw a distinction between 'unconscious' and 'deliberate' change. The discussion on 'unconscious' change considers phenomena such as the emergence and obsolescence of individual languages, while the book also includes detailed discussion on 'deliberate' change, traditionally marginalised in favour of explorations of the 'unconscious' variety. The sections on 'deliberate' change focus on issues of language planning, including the strategies of language revival and revitalisation movements, and also include a detailed exploration of what is arguably the most extreme instance of 'deliberate' change; language invention for real-world use. As a student-friendly text which covers a wide variety of language situations, it also makes a clear, but often ignored, distinction between concepts such as language policy and planning, and language revival and revitalisation, and the innovative case studies which permeate the text demonstrate that real-life language use is often much more complex than theoretical abstractions might suggest. This book will be extremely useful to students on a variety of courses including sociolinguistics, historical linguistics and language policy and planning.

Seller Inventory # 9780415317740

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Exploring Language Change
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov 2005
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415317746
• ISBN 13: 9780415317740
• Binding: Buch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 240W x 158H x 19D millimeters 240 millimeters width by 158 millimeters height by 19 millimeters depth
• Weight: 464 grams

About this title

Synopsis

In this student-friendly text, Jones and Singh explore the phenomenon of language change, with a particular focus on the social contexts of its occurrence and possible motivations, including speakers’ intentions and attitudes.

Presenting new or little-known data, the authors draw a distinction between "unconscious" and "deliberate" change. The discussion on "unconscious" change considers phenomena such as the emergence and obsolescence of individual languages, whilst the sections on "deliberate" change focus on issues of language planning, including the strategies of language revival and revitalization movements. There is also a detailed exploration of what is arguably the most extreme instance of "deliberate" change; language invention for real-world use.

Examining an extensive range of language situations, Exploring Language Change makes a clear, but often ignored distinction between concepts such as language policy and planning, and language revival and revitalization. Also featured are a number of case studies which demonstrate that real-life language use is often much more complex than theoretical abstractions might suggest.

This is a key text for students on a variety of courses, including sociolinguistics, historical linguistics and language policy and planning.

About the Author

Mari Jones, Ishtla Singh