Introduction
-
Iker Salaberri
Abstract
This paper discusses the issues faced by linguists analyzing language isolates, namely their definition, recovering their histories, and commonly used methods that implicitly rely on non-isolate status. This is followed by a critical review of recent approaches meant to overcome these issues. We argue that the techniques used to retrieve the history of non-isolate languages are also valid for isolates, including the comparative method applied to dialects, internal reconstruction, the philological study of texts, the study of past and present situations of language contact, and typological comparison. Nevertheless, we contend that new methodologies should be developed and combined with the already existing ones. We conclude by summarizing how the papers included in this volume contribute to the study of isolates.
Abstract
This paper discusses the issues faced by linguists analyzing language isolates, namely their definition, recovering their histories, and commonly used methods that implicitly rely on non-isolate status. This is followed by a critical review of recent approaches meant to overcome these issues. We argue that the techniques used to retrieve the history of non-isolate languages are also valid for isolates, including the comparative method applied to dialects, internal reconstruction, the philological study of texts, the study of past and present situations of language contact, and typological comparison. Nevertheless, we contend that new methodologies should be developed and combined with the already existing ones. We conclude by summarizing how the papers included in this volume contribute to the study of isolates.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Part I. Setting the stage
- Introduction 2
-
Part II. Typological features of isolates vs. non-isolates
- Is there a typological profile of isolates? 22
- The Amuric language family 48
- An Austronesian-type voice system in an Amazonian isolate? 71
-
Part III. Recovering the histories of isolates
- Etymologies in a language isolate 104
- The Small Bang 142
- Combining disparate lines of evidence in the study of the history of language isolates, exemplified with Mochica from Northern Peru 176
- The Múra doculects and Múra-Pirahã historical linguistics 208
-
Part IV. Isolates and language contact
- Baroque accretions and isolation 248
- California isolates 270
-
Part V. Isolates and language documentation and classification
- One language or two? 306
- Subject index 335
- Language index 337
- Name index 339
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Part I. Setting the stage
- Introduction 2
-
Part II. Typological features of isolates vs. non-isolates
- Is there a typological profile of isolates? 22
- The Amuric language family 48
- An Austronesian-type voice system in an Amazonian isolate? 71
-
Part III. Recovering the histories of isolates
- Etymologies in a language isolate 104
- The Small Bang 142
- Combining disparate lines of evidence in the study of the history of language isolates, exemplified with Mochica from Northern Peru 176
- The Múra doculects and Múra-Pirahã historical linguistics 208
-
Part IV. Isolates and language contact
- Baroque accretions and isolation 248
- California isolates 270
-
Part V. Isolates and language documentation and classification
- One language or two? 306
- Subject index 335
- Language index 337
- Name index 339
