LINGUIST List 12.1167

Fri Apr 27 2001

Books: Typology

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Vinegrad, Anna, Typology: Linguistic Typology by Jae Jung Song

LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY: Morphology and Syntax

Jae Jung Song
University of Otago, New Zealand

There are generally estimated to be about 4,000 to 6,000 languages in
the world. This number alone gives us an idea of the immense diversity
of languages of the world, but despite their differences, there also
has to be an underlying unity to human languages.

Linguistic typology is the study of the structural variation within
human language with a view to establishing limits on this variation
and seeking explanations for the limits. In this volume, Jae Jung Song
uses data from a wide range of languages to provide an up-to-date
critical introduction to linguistic typology. Focusing on major topics
ranging from basic word order to causative constructions, the book
demonstrates how systematic patterns can be uncovered, and limits on,
and explanations for, these systematic patterns can be sought and
formulated. Practical and methodological issues such as data
collection and language sampling are also discussed, as well as the
application of linguistic typology and a brief survey of major
European approaches to linguistic typology.

_Linguistic Typology_ will be essential reading for students involved in
linguistic typology and language universals, comparative morphology and
syntax, historical linguistics, first or second language acquisition, and
language and cognition.

Longman
Longman Linguistics Library Series
2001/406pp
ISBN 0-582-31220-5 (Hardback) �60.00
ISBN 0-582-31221-3 (Paperback) �19.99

UK Orders
 +44 (0)1279 623322
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For Europe and Rest of World please see ordering details on our website at:
 http://www.pearsoneduc.com/linguistics