Trask's Historical Linguistics 2nd Edition

Summary:
This book is an introduction to historical linguistics - the study of language change over time. Written in an engaging style and illustrated with examples from a wide range of languages, the book covers the fundamental concepts of language change, methods for historical linguistics, linguistic reconstruction, sociolinguistic aspects of language change, language contact, the birth and death of languages, language and prehistory and the issue of very remote relations.
A minimal knowledge of linguistic concepts is needed and the book is suitable for students approaching the subject for the first time. The exercises will be particularly useful to teachers and students alike.

• Covers the most recent developments in Historical Linguistics
• Written in a lively and engaging style
• Offers a set of exercises at the end of each chapter
• Draws on languages from all six continents
• Minimal knowledge of linguistic concepts required

• Faithful to the spirit of Trask's original text, updated with recent developments in the field

Table of Contents:
1. The fact of language change
2. Lexical and semantic change
3. Phonological change I: Change in pronunciation
4. Phonological change II: Change in phonological systems
5. Morphological change
6. Syntactic change
7. Relatedness between languages
8. The comparative method
9. Internal reconstruction
10. The origin and propagation of change
11. Social and historical pressures upon language: contact, planning and the birth and death of languages
12. Language and prehistory
Appendix: The Swadesh 200-word list

About the Author(s):
Robert McColl Millar works at the University of Aberdeen where he is head of the undergraduate Language and Linguistics programme.

Readership:
Undergraduate students of linguistics; teachers of linguistics

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