Overview

With nearly 2400 entries, this dictionary covers every aspect of historical linguistics, from the most venerable work to the exciting advances of the late 20th century. All of the traditional terms appear here, but so are the terms introduced more recently in connection with various subjects such as: Pidgin and Creole languages; the sociolinguistic study of language change; mathematical and computational methods; the novel approaches to linguistic geography; the controversial proposals of new and vast language families; and the attempts at relating the results of historical linguistics to those of the archaeologists, the anthropologists and the geneticists. There are linguistic examples of the terms that are defined, along with cross-references to related terms and the original literature.

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9780748610037

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As the author notes in the preface, 'Historical linguistics was the first branch of linguistics to be placed on a firm scholarly footing, around the beginning of the nineteenth century' yet this is the first dictionary specifically devoted to its terminology and is thus a welcome addition to the field. With nearly 2,400 entries, it provides thorough coverage of every aspect of historical linguistics, including Indo-European studies, language families, the sociolinguistic study of language change, and several others. Although dictionaries and encyclopedias of general linguistics have been rather numerous in the last period, this Dictionary limited to historical and comparative linguistics offers a lot that cannot be easily found elsewhere ! This is a very useful tool not only for beginners and advanced students but a good synthesis and reference book for professionals. At last, a dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics - the only one of its kind. It is a very extensive compilation and provides just the right amount of information in the individual entries, with clear and accurate definitions, historical and theoretical contexts, and appropriate references. The whole field and all who work in it are much the richer for having this reference work. -- Professor Lyle Campbell, Department of Linguistics, University of Canterbury, New Zealand In his Dictionary of Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Larry Trask surveys a range of language areas and sub-disciplines beyond the scope of most people working alone. Because of its breadth, it is an indispensable reference work for the majority of linguists, from the acolyte to the experienced practitioner. -- Professor Dorothy Disterheft, Linguistics Program, University of South Carolina As the author notes in the preface, 'Historical linguistics was the first branch of linguistics to be placed on a firm scholarly footing, around the beginning of the nineteenth century' yet this is the first dictionary specifically devoted to its terminology and is thus a welcome addition to the field. With nearly 2,400 entries, it provides thorough coverage of every aspect of historical linguistics, including Indo-European studies, language families, the sociolinguistic study of language change, and several others. Although dictionaries and encyclopedias of general linguistics have been rather numerous in the last period, this Dictionary limited to historical and comparative linguistics offers a lot that cannot be easily found elsewhere ! This is a very useful tool not only for beginners and advanced students but a good synthesis and reference book for professionals. At last, a dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics - the only one of its kind. It is a very extensive compilation and provides just the right amount of information in the individual entries, with clear and accurate definitions, historical and theoretical contexts, and appropriate references. The whole field and all who work in it are much the richer for having this reference work. In his Dictionary of Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Larry Trask surveys a range of language areas and sub-disciplines beyond the scope of most people working alone. Because of its breadth, it is an indispensable reference work for the majority of linguists, from the acolyte to the experienced practitioner.

As the author notes in the preface, 'Historical linguistics was the first branch of linguistics to be placed on a firm scholarly footing, around the beginning of the nineteenth century' yet this is the first dictionary specifically devoted to its terminology and is thus a welcome addition to the field. With nearly 2,400 entries, it provides thorough coverage of every aspect of historical linguistics, including Indo-European studies, language families, the sociolinguistic study of language change, and several others. Although dictionaries and encyclopedias of general linguistics have been rather numerous in the last period, this Dictionary limited to historical and comparative linguistics offers a lot that cannot be easily found elsewhere ! This is a very useful tool not only for beginners and advanced students but a good synthesis and reference book for professionals. At last, a dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics - the only one of its kind. It is a very extensive compilation and provides just the right amount of information in the individual entries, with clear and accurate definitions, historical and theoretical contexts, and appropriate references. The whole field and all who work in it are much the richer for having this reference work. -- Professor Lyle Campbell, Department of Linguistics, University of Canterbury, New Zealand In his Dictionary of Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Larry Trask surveys a range of language areas and sub-disciplines beyond the scope of most people working alone. Because of its breadth, it is an indispensable reference work for the majority of linguists, from the acolyte to the experienced practitioner. -- Professor Dorothy Disterheft, Linguistics Program, University of South Carolina As the author notes in the preface, 'Historical linguistics was the first branch of linguistics to be placed on a firm scholarly footing, around the beginning of the nineteenth century' yet this is the first dictionary specifically devoted to its terminology and is thus a welcome addition to the field. With nearly 2,400 entries, it provides thorough coverage of every aspect of historical linguistics, including Indo-European studies, language families, the sociolinguistic study of language change, and several others. Although dictionaries and encyclopedias of general linguistics have been rather numerous in the last period, this Dictionary limited to historical and comparative linguistics offers a lot that cannot be easily found elsewhere ! This is a very useful tool not only for beginners and advanced students but a good synthesis and reference book for professionals. At last, a dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics - the only one of its kind. It is a very extensive compilation and provides just the right amount of information in the individual entries, with clear and accurate definitions, historical and theoretical contexts, and appropriate references. The whole field and all who work in it are much the richer for having this reference work. In his Dictionary of Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Larry Trask surveys a range of language areas and sub-disciplines beyond the scope of most people working alone. Because of its breadth, it is an indispensable reference work for the majority of linguists, from the acolyte to the experienced practitioner.

Author Information

R. L. Trask is Professor of Linguistics in the School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences at the University of Sussex.

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