Languages of the World
An Introduction

Requiring no background in linguistics, this book introduces readers to the rich diversity of human languages.

Asya Pereltsvaig (Author)

9781108479325, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 September 2020

500 pages, 23 b/w illus. 40 tables
25 x 17.5 x 2.7 cm, 1.09 kg

Are you curious to know what all human languages have in common and in what ways they differ? Do you want to find out how language can be used to trace different peoples and their past? Then this book is for you! Now in its third edition, it guides beginners through the rich diversity of the world's languages. It presupposes no background in linguistics, and introduces the reader to linguistic concepts with the help of problem sets, end of chapter exercises and an extensive bibliography. Charts of language families provide geographical and genealogical information, and engaging sidebars with demographic, social, historical and geographical facts help to contextualise and bring languages to life. This edition includes a fully updated glossary of all linguistic terms used, new problem sets, and a new chapter on cartography. Supplementary online materials include links to all websites mentioned, and answers to the exercises for instructors.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Languages of Europe
3. Languages of Iran and South Asia
4. Languages of Northern Eurasia
5. Languages of the Caucasus
6. Languages of the Greater Middle East
7. Languages of sub-Saharan Africa
8. Languages of eastern Asia
9. Languages of the South Sea Islands
10. Aboriginal languages of New Guinea and Australia
11. Native languages of the Americas
12. Remaining issues: macro families, sign languages, and constructed languages
Glossary
Index of languages
Index of terms
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Linguistics [CF]