John Benjamins Publishing Company
2. Explaining sound change
Abstract
When specific languages are thought to be genetically related, because of systematic and recurrent form-meaning similarities in a large number of lexical roots in particular involving basic vocabulary as well as grammatical morphemes, it is usually possible to set up regular sound correspondences between segments in cognate forms. Moreover, as illustrated in the preceding chapter, specific sound changes may be reconstructed as a next step. Experience has shown not only that similar principles of regular sound change apply to language after language, but also that similar types of sound changes occur again and again in different parts of the world. Some of these more widespread structural changes in sound systems are illustrated next.
Abstract
When specific languages are thought to be genetically related, because of systematic and recurrent form-meaning similarities in a large number of lexical roots in particular involving basic vocabulary as well as grammatical morphemes, it is usually possible to set up regular sound correspondences between segments in cognate forms. Moreover, as illustrated in the preceding chapter, specific sound changes may be reconstructed as a next step. Experience has shown not only that similar principles of regular sound change apply to language after language, but also that similar types of sound changes occur again and again in different parts of the world. Some of these more widespread structural changes in sound systems are illustrated next.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
- Figures xiii
- Maps xv
- Tables xvii
-
Part I. The comparative method
- 1. Explaining similarities 3
- 2. Explaining sound change 23
- 3. Classification and subclassification techniques 59
- 4. Morphosyntactic changes 93
- 5. Semantic change 115
- 6. Internal reconstruction 141
- 7. Language-internal variation 153
-
Part II. The linguistic manifestation of contact
- 8. Borrowing 179
- 9. Pidginisation and creolisation 213
- 10. Syncretic languages 237
- 11. Language contraction and language shift 253
- 12. Language contact phenomena and genetic classification 265
-
Part III. Studying language change in a wider contex
- 13. Language typology and reconstruction 283
- 14. Remote relationships and genetic diversity on the African continent 307
- 15. Language and history 333
- 16. Some ecological properties of language development 347
- References 373
- Appendix 407
- Language and language family index 409
- Subject index 419
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface ix
- Figures xiii
- Maps xv
- Tables xvii
-
Part I. The comparative method
- 1. Explaining similarities 3
- 2. Explaining sound change 23
- 3. Classification and subclassification techniques 59
- 4. Morphosyntactic changes 93
- 5. Semantic change 115
- 6. Internal reconstruction 141
- 7. Language-internal variation 153
-
Part II. The linguistic manifestation of contact
- 8. Borrowing 179
- 9. Pidginisation and creolisation 213
- 10. Syncretic languages 237
- 11. Language contraction and language shift 253
- 12. Language contact phenomena and genetic classification 265
-
Part III. Studying language change in a wider contex
- 13. Language typology and reconstruction 283
- 14. Remote relationships and genetic diversity on the African continent 307
- 15. Language and history 333
- 16. Some ecological properties of language development 347
- References 373
- Appendix 407
- Language and language family index 409
- Subject index 419
