Linguistic Reconstruction: An Introduction to Theory and MethodHow and why are languages constantly changing? Historical linguistics seeks to find out by going beyond the history of individual languages to discover the general principles which underlie language change. But our evidence is severely limited. Most of the world's languages are still unwritten, and even in areas with long written traditions, such as Europe and the Near East, documentary evidence stretches only a little way back along the path of the historical development of languages. How, then, can we uncover our long linguistic prehistory, and what can it tell us about language change? This new book, the first in the major new series, Oxford Textbooks in Linguistics, is an accessible general guide for students with an elementary knowledge of linguistics to the methods and theoretical bases of linguistic reconstruction. Fox provides a comprehensive survey both of orthodox techniques and of newer, less well established principles such as the application of linguistic universals and language typology, and quantitative techniques. |
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Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Basic Procedures | 57 |
Comparative Reconstruction of Morphology Syntax | 92 |
Issues in Comparative Reconstruction | 122 |
Internal Reconstruction | 145 |
Applications and Implications of Internal Reconstruction | 185 |
Common terms and phrases
able actually alternations appears applied approach assumed assumption attempts basic basis chapter claim classification clear common Comparative Method comparison concerned conclusions consider consistent consonants context correspondences course criteria culture depends derived determining discussion distinction distribution earlier English establish evidence example existence fact final forms further genetic German give given Greek Greenberg groupings historical identify important Indo-European innovation Internal Reconstruction interpretation involved kind language change languages Latin latter laws lexical linguistic means merely merger morphemes morphological nature nevertheless noted occur original particular patterns phonemes phonological position possible present principle problem procedures Proto Proto-Indo-European proto-language question regular relationships represented root rules Sanskrit seen shared similar single sounds split spread stage structure suggests syntactic theory tion tree types typological universal verb voiced vowel
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Linguistic Reconstruction: An Introduction to Theory and Method Linguistic Reconstruction: An Introduction to Theory and Method, Anthony Fox Oxford linguistics Oxford textbooks in linguistics |
| Authors | Anthony Fox, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Phonetics Anthony Fox |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 1995 |
| ISBN | 0198700016, 9780198700012 |
| Length | 372 pages |
| Subjects | › › Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / Historical & Comparative |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |