Linguistic Evolution: With Special Reference to English

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Cambridge University Press, Jan 23, 1975 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 203 pages
Professor Samuels presents a comprehensive explanation of the reasons for linguistic change, applying his theory in particular to the history of English. He assesses and mediates between the conflicting dogmas of different schools of linguistics, and offers an alternative theory of linguistic change which is basically simple but has the scope to cover any type of change.
 

Contents

Variation in the spoken chain
9
the phoneme
28
variation
49
systemic regulation
64
Diversity and contact 888
88
An assessment of the problem
135
Dimensions of study
154
Conclusions
177
Index of persons
187
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