Language classification : history and method

Campbell, Lyle. (Author). Poser, William John, 1956- (Added Author).

Summary: "How are relationships established between the world's languages? This is one of the most topical and most controversial questions in contemporary linguistics. The central aims of the book are to answer this question, to cut through the controversies, and to contribute to research in distant genetic relationships. In doing this the authors aim to: (1) show how the methods have been employed; (2) reveal which methods, techniques, and strategies have proven successful and which ones have proven ineffective; (3) determine how particular language families were established; (4) evaluate several of the most prominent and more controversial proposals of distant genetic relationship (such as Amerind, Nostratic, Eurasiatic, Proto-World, and others); and (5) make recommendations for practice in future research. This book will contribute significantly to understanding language classification in general."--Publisher's website.

Record details

ISBN: 9780521880053
ISBN: 052188005X
ISBN: 9780511415180
ISBN: 9780511414503
ISBN: 9780511412899
ISBN: 0511415184
ISBN: 0511414501
ISBN: 0511412894
Physical Description: 1 online resource (ix, 536 pages)
remote
Computer data.
Publisher: Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Content descriptions

General Note:	CatMonthString:april.19 Multi-User.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references (pages 416-507) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	Introduction: how are languages shown to be related to one another? -- The beginning of comparative linguistics -- "Asiatic Jones, oriental Jones": Sir William Jones' role in the raise of comparative linguistics -- Consolidation of comparative linguistics -- How some languages were shown to belong to indo-European -- Comparative linguistics of other language families and regions -- How to show languages are related: the methods -- The philosophical-psychological-typological-evolutionary approach to language relationships -- Assessment of proposed distant generic relationships -- Beyond the comparative method? -- Why and how do languages diversify and spread? -- What can we learn about the earliest human language by comparing languages known today? -- Conclusions: Anticipating the future -- Appendix: Hypothesized distant genetic relationships.
Type of Computer File or Data Note:	Text (HTML), electronic book.
System Details Note:	Mode of access: Internet.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Note:	Access requires VIU IP addresses and is restricted to VIU students, faculty and staff. Access restricted by subscription.
Issuing Body Note:	Made available online by EBSCO.
Source of Description Note:	Print version record.