LINGUIST List 13.393

Tue Feb 12 2002

Books: Field Linguistics

Editor for this issue: Dina Kapetangianni <dinalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Lakhan Gusain, A Manual of Linguistic Field Work

A Manual of Linguistic Field Work and Indian Language Structures

Anvita Abbi
Center of Linguistics and English, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
& Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany


This is a manual on linguistic field methodology with special
reference to Indian language structures. It covers all that one needs
to know about eliciting data from native speaker informants of South
Asian languages. The book contains step by step information about
collection, collation, analysis, description, presentation and
explanation of linguistic data. The author has drawn a large number of
first-hand collected examples from lesser-known and 'tribal' languages
of India to expose the readers to the variety and diversity of
linguistic data available in the subcontinent. In addition to the
discussion on elicitation on phonological, morphological, syntactic,
semantic and sociolinguistic information, the author has discussed the
linguistic characteristic features of each language family of
India. The book makes the reader aware of areal features of the
languages under consideration and the contact phenomena to facilitate
fieldwork. Each topic is followed by the 'elicitation tips' and
interrogation techniques for the field worker as well as practical
issues, problems and solutions as regards collection of data. Sets of
questionnaires on commonly investigated topics are included in the
'appendix' to facilitate field worker to come to grips with the
theoretical and structural aspects of languages in general and Indian
languages in specific. Numerous figures, maps and tables.


LINCOM Handbooks in Linguistics 17
ISBN 3 89586 401 3. Ca. 320p.
Can be had from:
LINCOM EUROPA, Freibadstr. 3, D-81543 Muenchen.FAX+49 89 62269404.
LINCOM.EUROPAt-online.de.www.lincom-europa.com
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