Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method (Current Issues in Linguistic Theory) - Hardcover

Bowern, Claire; INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HISTORICAL L; Koch, Harold James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1588115127 ISBN 13: 9781588115126

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2004

Synopsis

This book addresses controversial issues in the application of the comparative method to the languages of Australia which have recently come to international prominence. Are these languages ‘different’ in ways that challenge the fundamental assumptions of historical linguistics? Can subgrouping be successfully undertaken using the Comparative Method? Is the genetic construct of a far-flung ‘Pama-Nyungan’ language family supportable by classic methods of reconstruction? Contrary to increasingly established views of the Australian scene, this book makes a major contribution to the demonstration that traditional methods can indeed be applied to these languages. These studies, introduced by chapters on subgrouping methodology and the history of Australian linguistic classification, rigorously apply the comparative method to establishing subgroups among Australian languages and justifying the phonology of Proto-Pama-Nyungan. Individual chapters can profitably be read either for their contribution to Australian linguistic prehistory or as case studies in the application of the comparative method.

About this title

Review

"This volume critically assesses interrelationships between Australian languages in the light of the most recent descriptive data and a detailed understanding of the most recent developments in the comparative method. The result is a wonderfully detailed and convincing rebuttal of claims that Australian languages have been subject to different kinds of forces." Terry Crowley, University of Waikato; "It's by far the best statement I've ever seen on issues of subgrouping methodology; [...] it would be ideal for assignment to students of historical linguistics who need to know about these issues. It is also, of course, a valuable introduction to the issues for specialists in Australian historical linguistics." [on the Introduction] Sarah Thomason, University of Michigan; "This book marks a coming of age of Australian historical linguistics. It is the first concerted attempt by Australianists to apply the classical comparative method to the core issues of subgrouping, reconstruction and diffusion and it does so with considerable success." Andrew Pawley, Australian National University"

Edition details

• Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Company
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1588115127
• ISBN 13: 9781588115126
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 699
• Editor: Koch James