Historical and Comparative Linguistics
In any course of historical and comparative linguistics there will be students of different language backgrounds, different levels of linguistic training, and different theoretical orientation. This textbook attempts to mitigate the problems raised by this heterogeneity in a number of ways. Since it is impossible to treat the language or language family of special interest to every student, the focus of this book is on English in particular and Indo-European languages in general, with Finnish and its closely related languages for contrast. The tenets of different schools of linguistics, and the controversies among them, are treated eclectically and objectively; the examination of language itself plays the leading role in our efforts to ascertain the comparative value of competing theories. This revised edition (1989) of a standard work for comparative linguists offers an added introduction dealing mainly with a semiotic basis of change, a final chapter on aspects of explanation, particularly in historical and human disciplines, and added sections on comparative syntax and on the semiotic status of the comparative method.
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 6] 1989. xv, 462 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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Introduction
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ix
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Part I. Background: genetic linguistics in relation to general linguistics and related fields
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|
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1. Language and linguistics
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3
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2. Writing and language
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31
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3. Linguistic variation
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47
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Part II. Historical linguistics: how does language change
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|
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4. Sound change
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57
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5. Grammar change: analogy
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88
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6. Rule change
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109
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7. Semantic change
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133
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8. External change: borrowing
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154
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9. Why does language change?: Social and linguistic factors
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179
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Part III. Comparative linguistics (general notions and structure): how can change be reversed?
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|
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10. Preliminaries to the historical methods
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207
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11. The comparative method (the central concept)
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229
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12. Internal reconstruction
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264
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13. Conclusion to the methods
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274
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Part IV. Linguistic reconstruction: A synthesis of various linguistic and cultural notions
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|
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114. Dialect geography
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289
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15. Alternative relationship models
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300
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16. Classification of languages
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310
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17. Philology and etymology
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323
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18. Reconstructing Phonology
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335
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19. Reconstructing grammar
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351
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20. Reconstructing semology/semantics
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364
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Part V. Conclusion: linguistics as part of anthropology
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|
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21. Change and reconstruction in culture and linguistics
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377
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22. Genetic linguistics and biological genetics
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389
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23. Genetic linguistics and metatheory
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399
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|
Bibliography
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413
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Index
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449
|
“The book remains an outstanding introduction, revealing the author's depth of knowledge and original thought, opening fascinating perspectives while informing adequately and reliably.”
Edgar C. Polomé, in The Journal of Indo-European Studies, 1996
“This book provides a thorough introduction to genetic linguistics for those who are already trained in other areas of linguistics. It successfully demonstrates that genetic linguistics is full of issues in need of investigation, and is thus very much alive.”
Colette van Kerckvoorde, in Language, 1990.
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Subjects
BIC Subject: CF – Linguistics
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General