Linguistic Diversity in Space and Time

by Johanna Nichols

University of Chicago Press, 1992
Cloth: 978-0-226-58056-2 | Paper: 978-0-226-58057-9 | Electronic: 978-0-226-58059-3
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226580593.001.0001

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ABOUT THIS BOOKTABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS BOOK

In this ground-breaking book, Johanna Nichols proposes means of describing, comparing, and interpreting linguistic diversity, both genetic and structural, providing the foundations for a theory of diversity based upon population science. This book will interest linguists, archaeologists, and population specialists.

"An awe-inspiring book, unequalled in scope, originality, and the range of language data considered."—Anna Siewierska, Linguistics

"Fascinating. . . . A brilliant pioneering study."—Journal of Indo-European Studies

"A superbly reasoned book."—John A. C. Greppin, Times Literary Supplement

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Acknowledgments

Note on Transcription and Abbreviations

1. Introduction

2. Favored and Disfavored Grammatical Patterns

3. Correlations between Types

4. Correlations of Structural Types with Grammatical Categories

5. Diachronie Stability: Genetic and Areal

6. The Role of Geography: Structural Affinities between Areas

7. Linguistic Diversity: Geographical Distribution

8. Diversity and Linguistic Prehistory: Conclusions and Open Questions

1. Sample Languages

2. Data: Language (by Area) and Structural Features

3. Alphabetical List of Languages

4. Frequency and Distribution of Voice Systems

Notes

References

Indexes