Overview
Why does language change? Why can we speak to and understand our parents but have trouble reading Shakespeare? Why is Chaucer's English of the fourteenth century so different from Modern English of the late twentieth century that the two are essentially different languages? Why are Americans and English 'one people divided by a common language'? And how can the language of Chaucer and Modern English - or Modern British and American English - still be called the same language? The present book provides answers to questions like these in a straightforward way, aimed at the non-specialist, with ample illustrations from both familiar and more exotic languages. Most chapters in this new edition have been reworked, with some difficult passages removed, other passages thoroughly rewritten, and several new sections added, e.g. on language and race and on Indian writing systems. Further, the chapter notes and bibliography have all been updated. The content is engaging, focusing on topics and issues that spark student interest. Its goals are broadly pedagogical and the level and presentation are appropriate for interested beginners with little or no background in linguistics. The language coverage for examples goes well beyond what is usual for books of this kind, with a considerable amount of data from various languages of India.
Full Product Details
Author: Hans Henrich Hock ,
Brian D. Joseph
Publisher: De Gruyter
Imprint: De Gruyter Mouton
Edition: 2nd rev. ed.
Volume: 218
Dimensions:
Width: 15.50cm
, Height: 3.30cm
, Length: 23.00cm
Weight: 0.997kg
ISBN: 9783110218428
ISBN 10: 3110218429
Pages: 605
Publication Date: 19 August 2009
Recommended Age: College Graduate Student
Audience:
Adult education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Further / Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Out of stock
The supplier is temporarily out of stock of this item. It will be ordered for you on backorder and shipped when it becomes available.
Reviews
""Hock and Joseph's book is very well planned and, in my opinion, it carries out its didactic purpose to an above-average level."" Matteo Tarsi in: https: //linguistlist.org/issues/30/30-3136.html (10.03.2020)
Hock and Joseph's book is very well planned and, in my opinion, it carries out its didactic purpose to an above-average level. Matteo Tarsi in: https: //linguistlist.org/issues/30/30-3136.html (10.03.2020)
Hock and Joseph's book is very well planned and, in my opinion, it carries out its didactic purpose to an above-average level. Matteo Tarsi in: https: //linguistlist.org/issues/30/30-3136.html (10.03.2020)
"""Hock and Joseph's book is very well planned and, in my opinion, it carries out its didactic purpose to an above-average level."" Matteo Tarsi in: https: //linguistlist.org/issues/30/30-3136.html (10.03.2020)"
Author Information
Hans Henrich Hock, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA; Brian D. Joseph, Ohio State University, USA.
