Balto-Slavic Accentual Mobility

By Thomas Olander

Why does the accent jump back and forth in Russian words like golov 'head', acc. g lovu, gen. golov , dat. golov etc.? How come we find similar alternations in other Slavic languages and in a Baltic language like Lithuanian?

The quest for the origin of the so-called "mobile accent paradigms" of Baltic and Slavic leads the reader through other Indo-European language branches such as Indo-Iranian, Greek and Germanic, all of which are relevant to the reconstruction of the Proto-Indo-European accentuation system. After the examination of the evidence for the reconstruction of the Proto-Indo-European accentuation system, focus is moved to the Baltic and Slavic accentuation systems and their relationship to each other and to Proto-Indo-European.

A comprehensive history of research and numerous bibliographical references to earlier pieces of scholarship throughout the book make it a useful tool for anybody who is interested in Balto-Slavic and Indo-European accentology. Written in a simple style and constantly aiming at presenting old and new opinions on the various problems, the volume may serve as an introduction to this complicated field.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3110203979
• ISBN13: 9783110203974
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: de Gruyter Mouton
• Length: 285 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 22 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary