The Unfolding Of Language - Couverture souple

Deutscher, Guy

 
9780099460251: The Unfolding Of Language
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0099460254 ISBN 13 : 9780099460251
Editeur : Arrow, 2006

Synopsis

'A persuasive and beautifully written take on how languages are constantly evolving... an enthralling read about human psychology and anthropology as well as linguistics.' ALEX BELLOS
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'Language is mankind's greatest invention - except of course, that it was never invented'. So begins Guy Deutscher's fascinating investigation into the evolution of language. No one believes that the Roman Senate sat down one day to design the complex system that is Latin grammar, and few believe, these days, in the literal truth of the story of the Tower of Babel. But then how did there come to be so many languages, and of such elaborate design? If we started off with rudimentary utterances on the level of 'man throw spear', how did we end up with sophisticated grammars, enormous vocabularies, and intricately nuanced shades of meaning?

Drawing on recent, groundbreaking discoveries in modern linguistics, Deutscher exposes the elusive forces of creation at work in human communication. Along the way, we learn why German maidens are neuter while German turnips are female, why we have feet not foots, and how great changes in pronunciation may result from simple laziness...
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'Powerful and thrilling' SPECTATOR
'Really ought to be read by anyone who persists in complaining that the English language is going to the dogs' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
'I was enthralled' A.S. Byatt, for GUARDIAN 'Books of the Year'
'Highly original... clever and convincing... this book will stretch your mind' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'Fascinating' BOSTON GLOBE

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l?auteur

Born in 1969, Guy Deutscher read Maths at Cambridge before doing his PhD in Linguistics. Formerly a Research Fellow in Historical Linguistics at St John's College, Cambridge, he is now at the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Languages in the University of Leiden. He lives in Amsterdam.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Arrow
Date d'édition
2006
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0099460254
ISBN 13 
9780099460251
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
368
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
gpsr@libri.de
gpsr@libri.de

Europaallee 1
Bad Hersfeld
36244
Allemagne

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780805080124: The Unfolding of Language

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0805080120 ISBN 13 :  9780805080124
Editeur : Holt Paperbacks, 2006
Couverture souple