Historical linguistics [electronic resource] : toward a twenty-first century reintegration / Don Ringe and Joseph F. Eska.

Historical linguistics [electronic resource] : toward a twenty-first century reintegration / Don Ringe and Joseph F. Eska.

9780521583329
9780521587112
9781139611558 (electronic book)

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

English

xiv, 313 p. : ill.

P142 .R56 2013

417/.7

"Bringing the advances of theoretical linguistics to the study of language change in a systematic way, this innovative textbook demonstrates the mutual relevance of historical linguistics and contemporary linguistics. Numerous case studies throughout the book show both that theoretical linguistics can be used to solve problems where traditional approaches to historical linguistics have failed to produce satisfying results, and that the results of historical research can have an impact on theory. The book first explains the nature of human language and the sources of language change in broad terms. It then focuses on different types of language change from contemporary viewpoints, before exploring comparative reconstruction - the most spectacular success of traditional historical linguistics - and the problems inherent in trying to devise new methods for linguistic comparison. Positioned at the cutting edge of the field, the book argues that this approach can and should lead to the reintegration of historical linguistics as one of the core areas in the study of language"-- Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Access limited to authorized users.

Online Resources > Ebooks
All Resources