Joseph F. Eska – författare

Bringing the advances of theoretical linguistics to the study of language change in a systematic way, this innovative textbook demonstrates the mutual relevance of historical linguistics and contemporary linguistics. Numerous case studies throughout the book show both that theoretical linguistics can be used to solve problems where traditional approaches to historical linguistics have failed to produce satisfying results, and that the results of historical research can have an impact on theory. The book first explains the nature of human language and the sources of language change in broad terms. It then focuses on different types of language change from contemporary viewpoints, before exploring comparative reconstruction - the most spectacular success of traditional historical linguistics - and the problems inherent in trying to devise new methods for linguistic comparison. Positioned at the cutting edge of the field, the book argues that this approach can and should lead to the re-integration of historical linguistics as one of the core areas in the study of language.

Bringing the advances of theoretical linguistics to the study of language change in a systematic way, this innovative textbook demonstrates the mutual relevance of historical linguistics and contemporary linguistics. Numerous case studies throughout the book show both that theoretical linguistics can be used to solve problems where traditional approaches to historical linguistics have failed to produce satisfying results, and that the results of historical research can have an impact on theory. The book first explains the nature of human language and the sources of language change in broad terms. It then focuses on different types of language change from contemporary viewpoints, before exploring comparative reconstruction - the most spectacular success of traditional historical linguistics - and the problems inherent in trying to devise new methods for linguistic comparison. Positioned at the cutting edge of the field, the book argues that this approach can and should lead to the re-integration of historical linguistics as one of the core areas in the study of language.

This volume contains an introductory essay, the bibliography of Professor Ringe, and nineteen articles on various aspects of historical linguistics composed by current and former colleagues and students at the University of Pennsylvania and a select number of leading scholars in the field based at institutions such as Cornell University, Harvard University, Oxford University, Saarland University, University of Georgia, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Munich, and York University. The majority of contributions focus upon linguistic phylogenetics (the interrelationships among languages), Classical linguistics, and Germanic linguistics. Many of the contributions make contributions to theoretical, as well as historical, linguistics.

This volume contains an introductory essay, the bibliography of Professor Ringe, and nineteen articles on various aspects of historical linguistics composed by current and former colleagues and students at the University of Pennsylvania and a select number of leading scholars in the field based at institutions such as Cornell University, Harvard University, Oxford University, Saarland University, University of Georgia, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Munich, and York University. The majority of contributions focus upon linguistic phylogenetics (the interrelationships among languages), Classical linguistics, and Germanic linguistics. Many of the contributions make contributions to theoretical, as well as historical, linguistics.

This handbook provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the current state of research in Celtic Language Studies, covering both existing and emerging scholarship and debate in the field, as well as containing new, cutting-edge research and highlighting fruitful directions and areas for future study. A number of special topic chapters provide additional framing, discuss special characteristics of the Celtic languages, set the modern Celtic languages in their social and cultural context, and describe currently emerging varieties of the modern languages. This book will be a useful resource not only to practising scholars who are specialists in the Celtic languages — ancient, medieval, and modern —, but also to scholars in general linguistics and linguistic typology who are interested in finding out what the Celtic languages of various historical periods are like, and students of other languages or language systems.