Languages of the World: An Introduction

by Pereltsvaig, Asya

• ISBN13: 9780521175777
• ISBN10: 0521175771
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-03-19
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

What do all human languages have in common and in what ways are they different? How can language be used to trace different peoples and their past? Are certain languages similar because of common descent or language contact? Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, this textbook introduces readers to the rich diversity of human languages, familiarizing students with the variety and typology of languages around the world. Linguistic terms and concepts are explained, in the text and in the glossary, and illustrated with simple, accessible examples. Eighteen language maps and numerous language family charts enable students to place a language geographically or genealogically. A supporting website includes additional language maps and sound recordings that can be used to illustrate the peculiarities of the sound systems of various languages. 'Test yourself' questions throughout the book make it easier for students to analyze data from unfamiliar languages.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. ix
List of maps	p. x
List of tables	p. xi
Words, words, words…	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Abbreviations used in the glosses	p. xvi
Introduction	p. 1
Languages, dialects and accents	p. 4
Language families	p. 7
Linguistic diversity	p. 11
Indo-European languages	p. 13
Discovery of the Indo-European family and comparative reconstruction	p. 13
The Indo-European controversy	p. 21
The Indo-European realm	p. 27
Focus on: Lesser-known Indo-European languages	p. 32
Non-Indo-European languages of Europe and India	p. 39
Finno-Ugric languages	p. 39
Basque	p. 48
Dravidian languages	p. 52
Focus on: Universals and the parametric theory of language	p. 56
Languages of the Caucasus	p. 64
Northwest Caucasian languages	p. 66
Northeast Caucasian languages	p. 67
Kartvelian languages	p. 73
Indo-European languages in the Caucasus	p. 77
Focus on: Field linguistics	p. 81
Languages of Northern Africa, Middle East and Central Asia	p. 86
Turkic languages	p. 86
Semitic languages	p. 92
Focus on: Language contact	p. 99
Languages of sub-Saharan Africa	p. 105
Nilo-Saharan languages	p. 106
Niger-Congo languages	p. 109
Khoisan languages	p. 117
Focus on: Official languages, trade languages and creole languages in sub-Saharan Africa	p. 120
Languages of eastern Asia	p. 124
Sino-Tibetan languages	p. 124
Austro-Asiatic languages	p. 132
Tai-Kadai languages	p. 136
Focus on: Isolating morphology and language change	p. 139
Languages of the South Sea Islands	p. 143
The Austronesian realm	p. 143
The Austronesian prototype	p. 146
The Polynesian controversy	p. 155
Focus on: The mystery of Malagasy	p. 160
Aboriginal languages of Australia and Papua New Guinea	p. 166
Languages of Papua New Guinea	p. 168
Languages of Australia	p. 173
Focus on: Is Dyirbal a primitive language?	p. 177
Native languages of the Americas	p. 183
Languages of North America	p. 184
Languages of Meso-America	p. 194
Languages of South America	p. 197
Focus on: The Pirahã controversy	p. 201
Macro families	p. 205
Afroasiatic languages	p. 205
Uralic languages	p. 209
Altaic languages	p. 211
The Nostratic and Eurasiatic hypotheses	p. 218
Other hypothesized macro language families	p. 225
Pidgins, creoles and other mixed languages	p. 230
Pidgins	p. 231
Creoles	p. 237
Mixed Jewish languages	p. 244
Glossary	p. 254
References	p. 260
Index of languages	p. 271
Index of terms	p. 277
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