Overview

Bi- and multilingualism are of great interest for contemporary linguists since this phenomenon deeply reflects on language acquisition, language use, and sociolinguistic conditions in many different circumstances all over the world. Multilingualism was, however, certainly rather common already, if not especially, in the premodern world. For some time now, research has started to explore this issue through a number of specialized studies. The present volume continues with the investigation of multilingualism through a collection of case studies focusing on important examples in medieval and early modern societies, that is, in linguistic and cultural contact zones, such as England, Spain, the Holy Land, but also the New World. As all contributors confirm, the numerous cases of multilingualism discussed here indicate strongly that the premodern period knew considerably less barriers between people of different social classes, cultural background, and religious orientation. But we also have to acknowledge that already then human communication could fail because of linguistic hurdles which prevented mutual understanding in religious and cultural terms.

Full Product Details

Author:   Albrecht Classen
Publisher:   De Gruyter
Imprint:   De Gruyter
Volume:   17
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 23.00cm
Weight:   0.716kg
ISBN:  

9783110470963

ISBN 10:   3110470969
Pages:   408
Publication Date:   12 September 2016
Recommended Age:   College Graduate Student
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Reviews

"""Die Beiträge dieses Bandes machen sehr deutlich, dass wir aus der intensiveren Beschäftigung mit Vielsprachigkeit viele Erkenntnisse ziehen können. Diese könnten eine historische Forschung bereichern, die nur allzu oft über gesellschaftliche Prozesse nachdenkt, ohne zu berücksichtigen, in welchen Sprachen sie stattfinden und was das über sie aussagt."" Daniel König in: Zeitschrift für Historische Forschung 1 (2018), 109-111"

Die Beitrage dieses Bandes machen sehr deutlich, dass wir aus der intensiveren Beschaftigung mit Vielsprachigkeit viele Erkenntnisse ziehen koennen. Diese koennten eine historische Forschung bereichern, die nur allzu oft uber gesellschaftliche Prozesse nachdenkt, ohne zu berucksichtigen, in welchen Sprachen sie stattfinden und was das uber sie aussagt. Daniel Koenig in: Zeitschrift fur Historische Forschung 1 (2018), 109-111

Author Information

Albrecht Classen, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions