Variation and Change: The Dynamics of Maltese in Space, Time and Society (Studia Typologica [STUF])

Oversized hardcover, 326 pages, NOT ex-library. Book is clean and bright with unmarked text, free of inscriptions and stamps, firmly bound. Minor handling wear only; short creases to the spine ends. Issued without a dust jacket. -- A collection of twelve scholarly articles exploring the linguistic evolution and diversity of the Maltese language. It shifts the focus from purely historical accounts to a contemporary linguistic analysis of how the language varies across different social and geographic contexts. Key Themes and Research Areas: The volume is divided into sections that address the lexicon, morphology, syntax, and phonology of Maltese through several lenses: - Social and Age-Based Variation [investigates whether distinct sociolects exist among the younger generation and examines the linguistic impact of Internet chatting]; - Geographic and Dialectal Diversity [features studies on regional varieties, specifically comparing dialects like Xlukkajr (southern Malta) and Naduri (Gozo)]; - Functional and Structural Issues [analyzes technical linguistic features such as clitics, the causative-inchoative alternation, and the use of the "possessive relative clause"]; - Modern Contexts [explores "technolects" and the specific variety of Maltese used within European Union institutions]; - Literary and Historical Perspective [includes linguistic analyses of major Maltese literary figures and the conscious efforts to standardize a "harbour/city" variety to gain prestige over rural dialects]. The book serves as a foundational text for general linguistics, proving that Maltese - with its unique blend of Semitic roots and Romance/English influences - offers a rich case study for understanding how languages adapt to social, political, and spatial changes.…