
Trask's Historical Linguistics
Routledge (Publisher)
3rd Edition
Published on 26. February 2015
Book
Hardback
392 pages
978-0-415-70657-5 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
Trask's Historical Linguistics, Third Edition, is an accessible introduction to historical linguistics - the study of language change over time. This engaging book is illustrated with language examples from all six continents, and covers the fundamental concepts of language change, methods for historical linguistics, linguistic reconstruction, sociolinguistic aspects of language change, language contact, the birth and death of languages, language and prehistory and the issue of very remote relations.
This third edition of the renowned Trask's Historical Linguistics is fully revised and updated and covers the most recent developments in historical linguistics, including:
more detail on morphological change including cutting-edge discussions of iconization
coverage of recent developments in sociolinguistic explanations of variation and change
new case studies focusing on Germanic languages and American and New Zealand English, and updated exercises covering each of the topics within the book
a brand new companion website featuring material for both professors and students, including discussion questions and further exercises as well as commentaries on the exercises within the book.
Trask's Historical Linguistics is essential reading for all students of language, linguistics and related disciplines.
The accompanying website can be found at www.routledge.com/cw/trask
This third edition of the renowned Trask's Historical Linguistics is fully revised and updated and covers the most recent developments in historical linguistics, including:
more detail on morphological change including cutting-edge discussions of iconization
coverage of recent developments in sociolinguistic explanations of variation and change
new case studies focusing on Germanic languages and American and New Zealand English, and updated exercises covering each of the topics within the book
a brand new companion website featuring material for both professors and students, including discussion questions and further exercises as well as commentaries on the exercises within the book.
Trask's Historical Linguistics is essential reading for all students of language, linguistics and related disciplines.
The accompanying website can be found at www.routledge.com/cw/trask
Reviews / Votes
"Trask's Historical Linguistics is a jewel among textbooks of Historical Linguistics: it brings to life the intriguing paths on which human languages have wandered in their development, and sparks the enthusiasm of the reader to explore and study them, providing the necessary toolkit and background knowledge."Robert Mailhammer, University of Western Sydney, Australia
"Larry Trask's Historical Linguistics is an exemplary introduction to the field, and McColl Millar's third edition is a much needed update: the new case studies and exercises are superb, and the revised reading suggestions extremely helpful."
Adrian Pable, The University of Hong Kong
"This new edition of Trask's Historical Linguistics by Robert McColl Millar provides a thorough introduction to the field in the broadest sense while remaining accessible to students and specialists alike. Truly a useful book."
Garry Davis, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
"This revised and expanded edition of Trask's seminal work will make welcome reading for scholars and students alike."
Raymond Hickey, University of Duisburg and Essen, Germany
"Accessible but not simplified, entertaining but not simplistic, this book provides thorough coverage of the field with a richness of explanation and examples that offers at the same time a synthetic overview and a wealth of data and detail. The new companion website promises to enhance its value as a textbook for the classroom and the independent learner."
Mark Richard Lauersdorf, University of Kentucky, USA
More details
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
32 s/w Zeichnungen, 78 s/w Tabellen
78 Tables, black and white; 32 Line drawings, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 174 mm
Weight
861 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-415-70657-5 (9780415706575)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions

Robert McColl Millar | R. L. Trask
Trask's Historical Linguistics
Book
05/2023
4th Edition
Routledge
€197.40
Shipment within 15-20 days
Additional editions

Robert McColl Millar | R. L. Trask
Trask's Historical Linguistics
Book
02/2015
3rd Edition
Routledge
€73.22
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Robert McColl Millar is Professor in Linguistics and Scottish Language at the University of Aberdeen. His most recent books include English Historical Sociolinguistics (2012) and (with William Barras and Lisa Marie Bonnici) Lexical Variation and Attrition in the Scottish Fishing Communities (2014).
Larry Trask was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex and an authority on Basque language and historical linguistics.
Larry Trask was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex and an authority on Basque language and historical linguistics.
Content
Chapter 1 The fact of language change
Chapter 2 Lexical and semantic change
Chapter 3 Phonological change I: change in pronunciation
Chapter 4 Phonological change II: change in phonological systems
Chapter 5 Morphological change
Chapter 6 Syntactic change
Chapter 7 Relatedness between languages
Chapter 8 Syntactic change
Chapter 10 The origin and propagation of change
Chapter 11 Social and historical pressures upon language
Chapter 12 Language and prehistory
Appendix: The Swadesh 200-word list
References
Index
Chapter 2 Lexical and semantic change
Chapter 3 Phonological change I: change in pronunciation
Chapter 4 Phonological change II: change in phonological systems
Chapter 5 Morphological change
Chapter 6 Syntactic change
Chapter 7 Relatedness between languages
Chapter 8 Syntactic change
Chapter 10 The origin and propagation of change
Chapter 11 Social and historical pressures upon language
Chapter 12 Language and prehistory
Appendix: The Swadesh 200-word list
References
Index