The Ecology of Language Evolution

by Salikoko S. Mufwene

Overview

This major new work explores the development of creoles and other new languages, focusing on the conceptual and methodological issues they raise for genetic linguistics. Written by an internationally renowned linguist, the book surveys a wide range of examples of changes in the structure, function and vitality of languages, and suggests that similar ecologies have played the same kinds of roles in all cases of language evolution. The Ecology of Language Evolution will be welcomed by students and researchers in sociolinguistics, creolistics, theoretical linguistics and theories of evolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521794756
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/30/2001
Series:	Cambridge Approaches to Language Contact
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. The founder principle in the development of creoles; 3. The development of American Englishes: factoring contact in and the social bias out; 4. The legitimate and illegitimate offspring of English; 5. What research on the development of creoles can contribute to genetic linguistics; 6. Language contact, evolution and death: how ecology rolls the dice; 7. Past and recent population movements in Africa: their impact on its linguistic landscape; 8. Conclusions for the big picture.

Editorial Reviews

"Mufwene's proposals will undoubtedly interest linguists and theorists of evolution alike." Interdisciplinary Journal for Germanic Linguistics and Semiotic Analysis

From the Publisher