The History of Languages

Jason P. Doroga, Linguist List A highly readable introduction to the history of languages intended for students and general readers with an interest in history, anthropology, politics and linguistics ... In sum, this textbook reinforces the idea that the study of language is linked to the study of history and society. It is appropriate for an introductory course in historical linguistics (though supplemental readings in historical phonology and morphology would need to be included in the syllabus), and it will give the student a solid overview of how societal changes effect language, as well as spark interest in a wide variety of topics such as language policy, language contact and language shift.

Journal of Historical Linguistics A very useful university handbook[The author] does not shy away from complex or controversial issues. Instead, these issues are put forward with interest, presenting to the reader the most recent scientific contributions to difficult topics with caution and moderation.

Tore Janson is now affiliated to the Department of Linguistics, Stockholm University. Until his retirement in 2001, he was Professor of African Languages at the University of Gothenburg. Previously, he had been Professor of Latin at the same university and is a world expert on its history. He is the author of the international bestsellers Speak: A Short History of Languages and The Natural History of Latin.

List of Maps; List of Figures; List of Tables; Preface; PART I: BEFORE HISTORY; 1. Unwritten Languages; 2. The Large Language Groups; PART II: THE BASIS OF HISTORY; 3. History and Writing; 4. Hieroglyphs and Egyptian; 5. Chinese - The Oldest Survivor; PART III: LANGUAGE EXPANSIONS; 6. Greek - Conquest and Culture; 7. Latin - Conquest and Order; 8. Arabic - Conquest and Religion; PART IV: LANGUAGES AND NATIONS; 9. Did Dante Write in Italian?; 10. From Germanic to Modern English; 11. The Era of National Languages; PART V: EUROPE AND THE WORLD; 12. Languages of Europe and of the World; 13. How Languages are Born - or Made; 14. How Languages Disappear; PART VI: RECENT PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE; 15. The Heyday of English; 16. Chinese and English in China; 17. And Then?; Chronology; References; Guidelines for Answers to Questions; Index