Overview
How and why do languages change? This new introduction offers a guide to the types of change at all levels of linguistic structure, as well as the mechanisms behind each type. Based on data from a variety of methods and a huge array of language families, it examines general patterns of change, bringing together recent findings on sound change, analogical change, grammaticalization, the creation and change of constructions, as well as lexical change. Emphasizing crosslinguistic patterns and going well beyond traditional methods in historical linguistics, this book sees change as grounded in cognitive processes and usage factors that are rarely mentioned in other textbooks. Complete with questions for discussion, suggested readings and a useful glossary of terms, this book helps students to gain a general understanding of language as an ever-changing system.
Full Product Details
Author: Joan Bybee (University of New Mexico)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 17.50cm
, Height: 1.40cm
, Length: 24.60cm
Weight: 0.620kg
ISBN: 9781107655829
ISBN 10: 110765582
Pages: 309
Publication Date: 28 May 2015
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Manufactured on demand
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.
Reviews
'This book, written by someone who has been influential in shaping our understanding of phonological and grammatical processes, provides a new perspective on how the study of language change can be, and in my view should be, approached.' Bernd Heine, University of Cologne 'The distillation of years of teaching topics that her own brilliant work has helped to define, Language Change is a welcome invitation to sit in on one of Bybee's favourite courses. Its broad scope and eclectic coverage, privileging the cognitive, processing and usage factors jointly operating in language users, make this unique among historical linguistics texts. A must-read for students and professionals interested not only in the outcomes but in the mechanisms of language change.' Shana Poplack, University of Ottawa '... the ideal introduction to language change, stressing cross-linguistic patterns.' Rena Torres Cacoullos, Pennsylvania State University This book, written by someone who has been influential in shaping our understanding of phonological and grammatical processes, provides a new perspective on how the study of language change can be, and in my view should be, approached. Bernd Heine, University of Cologne The distillation of years of teaching topics that her own brilliant work has helped to define, Language Change is a welcome invitation to sit in on one of Bybee's favourite courses. Its broad scope and eclectic coverage, privileging the cognitive, processing and usage factors jointly operating in language users, make this unique among historical linguistics texts. A must-read for students and professionals interested not only in the outcomes but in the mechanisms of language change. Shana Poplack, University of Ottawa ... the ideal introduction to language change, stressing cross-linguistic patterns. Rena Torres Cacoullos, Pennsylvania State University
the ideal introduction to language change, stressing cross-linguistic patterns. Rena Torres Cacoullos, Pennsylvania State University
Author Information
Joan Bybee is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Linguistics at the University of New Mexico.
