Language History, Language Change, and Language Relationship

by Brian D. Joseph and Hans Henrich Hock

Why does language change? Why can we speak to and understand our parents but have trouble reading Shakespeare? Why is Chaucer's English of the fourteenth century so different from Modern English of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 311014784X
• ISBN13: 9783110147841
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Mouton de Gruyter
• Length: 602 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

prior experience a must

1st of all, historical/comparative linguistics is not something for beginners. historical linguistics in itself doesn't start in college until the 300 level; that means you probablly should have 3 or 4 linguistics classes under your belt already. 2nd historical linguistics is a mountain to climb as it is. without a teacher i don't think anyone could obtain a thorough understanding. 3rd i personally met brian joseph and that guy knows his stuff. I'm not getting down on the other comment but you gotta crawl before you walk and this is no beginner's book.