Historical Linguistics and the Comparative Study of African Languages
This advanced historical linguistics course book deals with the historical and comparative study of African languages. The first part functions as an elementary introduction to the comparative method, involving the establishment of lexical and grammatical cognates, the reconstruction of their historical development, techniques for the subclassification of related languages, and the use of language-internal evidence, more specifically the application of internal reconstruction. Part II addresses language contact phenomena and the status of language in a wider, cultural-historical and ecological context. Part III deals with the relationship between comparative linguistics and other disciplines. In this rich course book, the author presents valuable views on a number of issues in the comparative study of African languages, more specifically concerning genetic diversity on the African continent, the status of pidginised and creolised languages, language mixing, and grammaticalisation.
[Not in series, 161] 2011. xviii, 421 pp.
Publishing status: Available
Published online on 26 May 2011
Published online on 26 May 2011
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
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Preface | pp. ix–xi
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Figures | p. xiii
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Maps | p. xv
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Tables | p. xvii
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Part I. The comparative method
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1. Explaining similarities | pp. 3–22
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2. Explaining sound change | pp. 23–58
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3. Classification and subclassification techniques | pp. 59–92
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4. Morphosyntactic changes | pp. 93–114
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5. Semantic change | pp. 115–140
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6. Internal reconstruction | pp. 141–152
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7. Language-internal variation | pp. 153–176
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Part II. The linguistic manifestation of contact
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8. Borrowing | pp. 179–212
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9. Pidginisation and creolisation | pp. 213–236
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10. Syncretic languages | pp. 237–252
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11. Language contraction and language shift | pp. 253–264
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12. Language contact phenomena and genetic classification | pp. 265–280
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Part III. Studying language change in a wider contex
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13. Language typology and reconstruction | pp. 283–306
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14. Remote relationships and genetic diversity on the African continent | pp. 307–332
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15. Language and history | pp. 333–346
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16. Some ecological properties of language development | pp. 347–372
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Appendix | pp. 407–408
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Language and language family index | pp. 409–417
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Subject index | pp. 419–421
“This study is an amazingly rich introduction to historical linguistics and African comparative linguistics. From the first chapter on, it has great depth, wonderful tables with sound correspondences, cognate sets, language classifications, and maps of material that is only rarely discussed in mainstream (historical) linguistics. At the same time, the book is very readable and accessible to students as well as an incredible resource for scholars. It is a delight to read!”
Elly van Gelderen, Arizona State University
“The history and the genealogical relationships of the languages of Africa are better and better understood, but it is high time that the overall picture is once again presented on the basis of the latest results. Gerrit Dimmendaal is eminently suited to guide the reader and student through the maze of facts and factoids concerning the complex history of the languages of the continent, in particular the processes of contact and mixture.”
Pieter Muysken, Radboud University Nijmegen
“For historical linguists with even a passing interest in Africa, or even a desire to see how historical linguistics applies outside of Indo-European, this is a recommended book.”
Michael Cahill, SIL, in Studies in Language 36(4): 907-914
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Green, Christopher R. & Maria Konoshenko
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Ackerman, Farrell
2021. Chapter 2. Making sense of morphology. In All Things Morphology [Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 353], ► pp. 17 ff.
Baker, Matthew J.
Payne, Doris L.
2021. Chapter 14. The profile and development of the Maa (Eastern Nilotic) antipassive. In Antipassive [Typological Studies in Language, 130], ► pp. 447 ff.
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Faghiri, Pegah & Pollet Samvelian
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Childs, G. Tucker
2019. Chapter 12. Ideophones as a measure of multilingualism*. In Ideophones, Mimetics and Expressives [Iconicity in Language and Literature, 16], ► pp. 303 ff.
DE ALMEIDA, MARCOS ABREU LEITÃO
de Luna, Kathryn M. & Jeffrey B. Fleisher
Heath, Jeffrey
O’Hagan, Zachary, Natalia Chousou-Polydouri & Lev Michael
Whiteley, Peter M., Ming Xue & Ward C. Wheeler
de Almeida, Marcos Leitão
Kießling, Roland
2018. Niger-Congo numeral classifiers in a diachronic perspective. In The Diachrony of Classification Systems [Current Issues in Linguistic Theory, 342], ► pp. 33 ff.
Clackson, James
Creissels, Denis
2017. The flexibility of the noun/verb distinction in the lexicon of Mandinka. In Lexical Polycategoriality [Studies in Language Companion Series, 182], ► pp. 35 ff.
Creissels, Denis
2017. Chapter 3. Similarity, suitability, and non-epistemic modalities (volitionality, ability, and obligation). In Similative and Equative Constructions [Typological Studies in Language, 117], ► pp. 79 ff.
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Daval-Markussen, Aymeric, Kristoffer Friis Bøegh & Peter Bakker
2017. Chapter 7. West African languages and creoles worldwide. In Creole Studies – Phylogenetic Approaches, ► pp. 141 ff.
Good, Jeff
Bakker, Peter
2016. You got Gungbe, but we got the numbers. Journal of Pidgin and Creole Languages 31:2 ► pp. 419 ff.
Bakker, Peter
2017. Chapter 10. Dutch creoles compared with their lexifier. In Creole Studies – Phylogenetic Approaches, ► pp. 219 ff.
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Gallay, Alain
Igartua, Iván
2016. Nesset, Tore. 2015. How Russian Came To Be the Way It Is: A Student’s Guide to the History of the Russian Language. Journal of Historical Linguistics 6:1 ► pp. 114 ff.
Igartua, Iván
Moran, Steven
NASSENSTEIN, NICO
Bostoen, Koen, Bernard Clist, Charles Doumenge, Rebecca Grollemund, Jean-Marie Hombert, Joseph Koni Muluwa & Jean Maley
Dimmendaal, Gerrit J.
2015. Different cultures, different attitudes. In Language Documentation and Endangerment in Africa [Culture and Language Use, 17], ► pp. 37 ff.
Dimmendaal, Gerrit J.
Hodgson, Jason A., Connie J. Mulligan, Ali Al-Meeri, Ryan L. Raaum & Scott M. Williams
Hyman, Larry M.
2014. Chapter 5. Reconstructing the Niger-Congo Verb Extension Paradigm. In Paradigm Change [Studies in Language Companion Series, 161], ► pp. 103 ff.
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Subjects
Main BIC Subject
CFF: Historical & comparative linguistics
Main BISAC Subject
LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General