Language Change

Language Change
ISBN-10
110765582X
ISBN-13
9781107655829
Series
Language Change
Category
Language Arts & Disciplines
Pages
309
Language
English
Published
2015-05-28
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Author
Joan Bybee

Description

How and why do languages change? This new introduction offers a guide to the types of change at all levels of linguistic structure, as well as the mechanisms behind each type. Based on data from a variety of methods and a huge array of language families, it examines general patterns of change, bringing together recent findings on sound change, analogical change, grammaticalization, the creation and change of constructions, as well as lexical change. Emphasizing crosslinguistic patterns and going well beyond traditional methods in historical linguistics, this book sees change as grounded in cognitive processes and usage factors that are rarely mentioned in other textbooks. Complete with questions for discussion, suggested readings and a useful glossary of terms, this book helps students to gain a general understanding of language as an ever-changing system.

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