Language Classification: History and Method (Hardcover)

Lyle Campbell

ISBN 10: 052188005X / ISBN 13: 9780521880053

Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2008

About this Item

Hardcover. 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 this 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. 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. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780521880053

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Language Classification: History and Method (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 052188005X
• ISBN 13: 9780521880053
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

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 this 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.

About the Authors

Lyle Campbell is Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah.

William J. Poser is Adjunct Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia.