Principles of Historical LinguisticsHistorical linguistic theory and practice contains a great number of different 'layers' which have been accepted in the course of time and have acquired a permanency of their own. These range from neogrammarian conceptualizations of sound change and analogy to present-day ideas on rule change and language mixture. To get a full grasp of the principles of historical linguistics it is therefore necessary to understand the nature and justifications (or shortcomings) of each of these 'layers', not just to look for a single 'overarching' theory. The major purpose of the book is to provide in up-to-date form such an understanding of the principles of historical linguistics and the related fields of comparative linguistics and linguistic reconstruction. In addition, the book provides a very broad exemplification of the principles of historical linguistics. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 1 |
2 Phonetics transcription terminology abbreviations | 11 |
The regularity hypothesis | 34 |
4 Sound change and phonological contrast | 52 |
Assimilation weakening loss | 61 |
Dissimilation haplology metathesis | 107 |
Epenthesis elimination of hiatus other changes | 117 |
Structure and function | 148 |
13 Syntactic change | 309 |
Lexical borrowing | 380 |
Dialectology | 426 |
Koines convergence pidgins creoles language death | 472 |
17 Internal reconstruction | 532 |
Establishing linguistic relationship | 556 |
19 Comparative reconstruction | 581 |
Its nature and causes | 627 |
General discussion and typology | 167 |
Tendencies of analogical change | 210 |
11 Analogy and generative grammar | 238 |
12 Semantic change | 280 |
Notes | 663 |
Backmatter | 681 |