Language, Its Origin and Development (Classic Reprint)

Thomas Hewitt Key

ISBN 10: 1330377494 / ISBN 13: 9781330377499

Published by Forgotten Books, 2018

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book examines the origin and development of language, focusing on oral language as the main medium of communication. The author argues that the earliest forms of language were composed primarily of verbs expressing simple actions and that mimetic language, or the imitation of sounds in nature, played a key role in the development of language. The book challenges traditional theories that posit the existence of a substantive verb as essential to language and proposes an alternative view that prioritizes the expression of action and agency. Through a detailed analysis of various languages, including Latin, Sanskrit, and English, the author explores the evolution of language from its primitive origins to its present complexity, shedding light on the fundamental nature of human communication. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781330377499_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Language, Its Origin and Development (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1330377494
• ISBN 13: 9781330377499
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Learning Foreign Languages

About this title

Synopsis

Discover how languages connect across continents and time.

This compact study traces how language families, from Finnic to Indo‑European, share roots and structures. You’ll see cross‑language evidence, from verb forms to pronouns, that illuminates the early ties among European and adjacent languages.

This edition compiles examples and analysis that compare adjectives, verbs, and pronouns to reveal recurring patterns in inflection, suffixes, and word formation. It highlights how grammars can reflect ancient connections, guiding readers through methodological questions in historical linguistics without assuming modern conclusions.

• How comparative forms like the Latin superlative and Germanic suffixes relate to earlier patterns.
• Evidence from Finnic and Lapp forms that illuminate wider Indo‑European links.
• Reasoning about pronouns, affixes, and how common roots migrate across languages.
• Examples that show how verb forms and noun endings reveal historical relationships.

Ideal for readers curious about the origins of language and the way philology builds links between distant tongues. This edition is best for those who enjoy careful historical analysis and concrete linguistic examples.