21.3315, Books: Sociolinguistics/Historical Linguistics: Trask

Tue Aug 17 13:32:18 UTC 2010

LINGUIST List: Vol-21-3315. Tue Aug 17 2010. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 21.3315, Books: Sociolinguistics/Historical Linguistics: Trask

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1)
Date: 11-Aug-2010
From: Daniel Davies < ddavies at cambridge.org >
Subject: Why Do Languages Change?: Trask

-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:31:03
From: Daniel Davies [ddavies at cambridge.org]
Subject: Why Do Languages Change?: Trask

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Title: Why Do Languages Change? 
Publication Year: 2010 
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
	   http://us.cambridge.org

Book URL: http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780511763878 

Author: Larry Trask

Electronic: ISBN:  9780511763878 Pages:  Price: U.S. $ 22.00
Hardback: ISBN:  9780521838023 Pages: 210 Price: U.K. £ 50.00
Paperback: ISBN:  9780521546935 Pages: 210 Price: U.K. £ 15.99

Abstract:

The first recorded English name for the make-up we now call blusher was 
paint, in 1660. In the 1700s a new word, rouge, displaced paint, and remained 
in standard usage for around two centuries. Then, in 1965, an advertisement 
coined a new word for the product: blusher. Each generation speaks a little 
differently, and every language is constantly changing. It is not only words 
that change, every aspect of a language changes over time - pronunciation, 
word-meanings and grammar. Packed with fascinating examples of changes 
in the English language over time, this entertaining book explores the origin of 
words and place names, the differences between British and American 
English, and the apparent eccentricities of the English spelling system. 
Amusingly written yet deeply instructive, it will be enjoyed by anyone 
involved in studying the English language and its history, as well as anyone 
interested in how and why languages change.

- No prior knowledge of the subject is required 
- Includes examples from many languages with primary attention given to 
changes in English 
- Each chapter is sufficiently independent of the others to be read on its own 

Contents

1. How do languages change?; 
2. Why are languages always changing?; 
3. Where do words come from?; 
4. Skunk-Leek - my kind of town: what's in a name?; 
5. Where does English come from?; 
6. Why is American English different from British English?; 
7. Why is English spelling so eccentric?; 
8. Which is the oldest language?

Reviews

'Clear, sensible and stimulating ... a fine memorial to the late Larry Trask. 
This book deserves to succeed as a splendid introductory text for anyone 
interested in language change.' Jeremy J. Smith, University of Glasgow

'Trask's enthusiasm and learning are obvious ... will give its readers more 
enjoyment than many other volumes on the subject ...' Times Literary 
Supplement 

Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics
                     Sociolinguistics

Subject Language(s): English (eng)

Written In: English  (eng)

See this book announcement on our website: 
http://linguistlist.org/pubs/books/get-book.cfm?BookID=49783

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