What do all human languages have in common and in what ways are they different? How can language be used to trace different peoples and their past? Are certain languages similar because of common descent or language contact? Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, this textbook introduces readers to the rich diversity of human languages, familiarizing students with the variety and typology of languages around the world. Linguistic terms and concepts are explained, in the text and in the glossary, and illustrated with simple, accessible examples. Eighteen language maps and numerous language family charts enable students to place a language geographically or genealogically. A supporting website includes additional language maps and sound recordings that can be used to illustrate the peculiarities of the sound systems of various languages. 'Test yourself' questions throughout the book make it easier for students to analyze data from unfamiliar languages.
Author(s): Asya Pereltsvaig
Edition: 1
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 295
Cover
Languages of the World
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Figures
Maps
Tables
Words, words, words . . .
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations used in the glosses
1 Introduction
1.1 Languages, dialects and accents
1.2 Language families
1.3 Linguistic diversity
2 Indo-European languages
2.1 Discovery of the Indo-European family and comparative reconstruction
2.2 The Indo-European controversy
2.3 The Indo-European realm
2.4 Focus on: Lesser known Indo-European languages
3 Non-Indo-European languages of Europe and India
3.1 Finno-Ugric languages
3.2 Basque
3.3 Dravidian languages
3.4 Focus on: Universals and the parametric theory of language
4 Languages of the Caucasus
4.1 Northwest Caucasian languages
4.2 Northeast Caucasian languages
4.3 Kartvelian languages
4.4 Indo-European languages in the Caucasus
4.5 Focus on: Field linguistics
5 Languages of Northern Africa, Middle East and Central Asia
5.1 Turkic languages
5.2 Semitic languages
5.3 Focus on: Language contact
6 Languages of sub-Saharan Africa
6.1 Nilo-Saharan languages
6.2 Niger-Congo languages
6.3 Khoisan languages
6.4 Focus on: Official languages, trade languages and creole languages in sub-Saharan Africa
7 Languages of eastern Asia
7.1 Sino-Tibetan languages
7.2 Austro-Asiatic languages
7.3 Tai-Kadai languages
7.4 Focus on: Isolating morphology and language change
8 Languages of the South Sea Islands
8.1 The Austronesian realm
8.2 The Austronesian prototype
8.3 The Polynesian controversy
8.4 Focus on: Themystery of Malagasy
9 Aboriginal languages of Australia and Papua New Guinea
9.1 Languages of Papua New Guinea
9.2 Languages of Australia
9.3 Focus on: Is Dyirbal a primitive language?
10 Native languages of the Americas
10.1 Languages of North America
10.2 Languages of Meso-America
10.3 Languages of South America
10.4 Focus on: The Pirahã controversy
11 Macro families
11.1 Afroasiatic languages
11.2 Uralic languages
11.3 Altaic languages
11.4 The Nostratic and Eurasiatic hypotheses
11.5 Other hypothesized macro language families
12 Pidgins, creoles and other mixed languages
12.1 Pidgins
12.2 Creoles
12.3 Mixed Jewish languages
Glossary
References
Index of languages
Index of terms
