Name: Language Change By Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)
SKU: 9781107678927
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Language Change Summary

Language Change: Progress or Decay? by Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

How and why do languages change? Where does the evidence of language change come from? How do languages begin and end? This introduction to language change explores these and other questions, considering changes through time. The central theme of this book is whether language change is a symptom of progress or decay. This book will show you why it is neither, and that understanding the factors surrounding how language change occurs is essential to understanding why it happens. This updated edition remains non-technical and accessible to readers with no previous knowledge of linguistics.

Language Change Reviews

'Jean Aitchison's Language Change: Progress or Decay? has been essential introductory reading for students of historical linguistics for many years: it manages the rare trick of combining theoretical sophistication and clear, simple (but not simplistic) expression. This new edition, which takes account of current issues in language-change studies while not discarding classic discussions, remains a fine and very approachable survey. I shall certainly recommend it to my undergraduates.' Jeremy J. Smith, University of Glasgow
'A brilliant essay in linguistics ... Even in the most complex spaghetti junctions of her argument, her own directions are always clear, and her own language lively, fresh and stimulating.' The Guardian
'... captivating and highly readable ... linguistic phenomena are lucidly explained, often through the use of analogy, graphics and clear examples taken from a range of different languages. A new and welcome addition to this fourth edition are the questions placed at the end of the book - three for each chapter - which help readers to test their understanding of the main points.' Ilse Wischer, translated from Zeitschrift fur Dialektologie und Linguistik

About Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

After many years lecturing with the University of London (at the London School of Economics and Political Science), Jean Aitchison was Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Oxford (1993-2003) and is now an Emeritus Professor. She is the author of a number of books on language, including The Language Web (Cambridge University Press, 1997).

Part I. Preliminaries: 1. The ever-whirling wheel; 2. Collecting up clues; 3. Charting the changes; Part II. Transition: 4. Spreading the word; 5. Conflicting loyalties; 6. Catching on and taking off; 7. Caught in the web; 8. The wheels of language; 9. Spinning away; Part III. Causation: 10. The reason why; 11. Doing what comes naturally; 12. Repairing the patterns; 13. Pushing and pulling; Part IV. Beginnings and Endings: 14. Language birth; 15. Language death; 16. Progress or decay?

Additional information

Sku

GOR005914492

ISBN 13

9781107678927

ISBN 10

1107678927

Title

Language Change: Progress or Decay? by Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Author

Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Series

Cambridge Approaches to Linguistics

Condition

Used - Very Good

Binding type

Paperback

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Year published

2012-12-20

Number of pages

308

Prizes

N/A

Cover note

Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.

Note

This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Language Change Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Language Change by Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Summary

Language Change Summary

Language Change: Progress or Decay? by Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Language Change Reviews

About Jean Aitchison (University of Oxford)

Table of Contents

Additional information

Customer Reviews - Language Change