linguistlist.org>
Editor for this issue: Madhavi Jammalamadaka <madhulinguistlist.org>
t-online.de>Title: The Nilo-Saharan Languages Series Title: LINCOM Handbooks in Linguistics 06 Publication Year: 2003 Publisher: Lincom GmbH www.lincom-europa.com http://lincom.at Author: M. Lionel Bender, University of Carbondale Paperback: ISBN: 389586045X, Pages: 270, Price: EUR 77.70 Abstract: The Nilo-Saharan Phylum is the most controversial outcome of Greenbergs genetic classification of African languages dating from 1963. It combines a number of previous and its coherence as against the other phyla (Afrasian, Niger-Congo, and Khoisan) has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. In this volume, the author undertakes the demo nstration, taking as a starting point major groupings he established in pre vious morphological comparisons and then examining a lexical data base of o ver 600 items from all the documented languages. The large Central Sudanic and East Sudanic families are represented by reconstructed forms from previ ous and forthcoming publications respectively. The outcome is a set of 359 reconstructed items divided among Nilo-Sahar an isoglosses (174 in number), isoglosses for subfamilies (83), symbolic fo rms (21), areal items (35), items linking Nilo-Saharan and Niger-Congo (30) , and items linking Nilo-Saharan and Afrasian (26). The last four groups ar e not evidence for establishment of Nilo-Saharan as a genetic family, but a re equally important in delimiting the phylum and setting it off from other phyla, a task which has not been given proper weight in the past. The book begins with a lengthy and valuable Introduction covering purpos e and method, an annotated list of languages genetically arranged, a demogr aphic and cultural overview summary of speakers, and typological and areal overviews. A history of Nilo-Saharan studies is included and in a separate chapter a detailed comparison with the only competing classification (CH. EHRET, forthcoming). The main body of the text consists of the establishment of proto-Nilo-S aharan segments and modern reflexes, consideration of the role of morpholo gy, and representation of the 359 reconstructed forms. Four indices allow t he reader to locate items by semantic set, English gloss, reconstructed hea d-forms in alphabetical order, and selected secondary reconstructions under head-forms. 2nd printing. (visit our webshop: www.lincom.at) Lingfield(s): Language Description Language Family(ies): Nilo-Saharan (Language Code: ) Written In: English (Language Code: ENG) See this book announcement on our website: http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=8308.Mail to author|Respond to list|Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue