Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method: 249 - Rilegato

9789027247612: Australian Languages: Classification and the comparative method: 249

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 9027247617 ISBN 13: 9789027247612

Casa editrice: John Benjamins Publishing Co, 2004

This book addresses controversial issues in the application of the comparative method to the languages of Australia which have recently come to international prominence. Are these languages `different' in ways that challenge the fundamental assumptions of historical linguistics? Can subgrouping be successfully undertaken using the Comparative Method? Is the genetic construct of a far-flung `Pama-Nyungan' language family supportable by classic methods of reconstruction? Contrary to increasingly established views of the Australian scene, this book makes a major contribution to the demonstration that traditional methods can indeed be applied to these languages. These studies, introduced by chapters on subgrouping methodology and the history of Australian linguistic classification, rigorously apply the comparative method to establishing subgroups among Australian languages and justifying the phonology of Proto-Pama-Nyungan. Individual chapters can profitably be read either for their contribution to Australian linguistic prehistory or as case studies in the application of the comparative method.

Le informazioni nella sezione "Riassunto" possono far riferimento a edizioni diverse di questo titolo.