The Languages of the World

by Kenneth Katzner, Kirk Miller

Overview

This third edition of Kenneth Katzner's best-selling guide to languages is essential reading for language enthusiasts everywhere. Written with the non-specialist in mind, its user-friendly style and layout, delightful original passages, and exotic scripts, will continue to fascinate the reader. This new edition has been thoroughly revised to include more languages, more countries, and up-to-date data on populations.
Features include:
*information on nearly 600 languages
*individual descriptions of 200 languages, with sample passages and English translations
*concise notes on where each language is spoken, its history, alphabet and pronunciation
*coverage of every country in the world, its main language and speaker numbers
*an introduction to language families

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415250047
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/21/2002
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Prior to his recent retirement, Kenneth Katzner worked for the US government and also served as an editor on a number of international encyclopedias and English dictionaries. He is also author of a large English-Russian/Russian-English Dictionary.

Table of Contents

PART I Language families of the world, Chart, Indo-European languages, Uralic languages, Altaic languages, Caucasian languages, Dravidian languages, Munda languages, Sino-Tibetan languages, Mon-Khmer languages, Austronesian languages, Papuan languages, Australian languages, Paleo-Asiatic languages, Eskimo-Aleut languages, Niger-Congo languages, Afro-Asiatic languages, Chari-Nile languages, Khoisan languages , American Indian languages, Artificial languages, Pidgin and creole languages, PART II Individual languages, Europe, Former Soviet Union, Middle East, Asia, Oceania, Western Hemisphere, Africa, An artificial language PART III Country-by-country survey

Editorial Reviews

This pocket-sized handbook for language students and linguists offers capsule information on 45 language families (from Eskimo-Aleut to Afro-Asiatic), samples of individual languages (with translations into English), and a country-by-country survey giving information about the principal languages of each of the world's 133 nations. First published in 1977 (Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.), revised in 1986, and here republished in what's identified, without explanation, as a "new edition." No bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

'A reference tool for all linguists as well as a collector's item for those in allied fields, enabling even an amateur to identify foreign scripts with ease and satisfaction ... to be recommended.' - Modern Language Review

'A wholly fascinating mini-kaleidoscope indicating the largely diverse variety of the world's main languages and their scripts and of their cultures.' - The Good Book Guide

Praise for the Second Edition:‘The Languages of the World offers excellent aid not only to linguists, to whom its importance is obvious, but also to anyone interested in international affairs or curious about other inhabitants of the planet.' - Charles Berlitz

‘A reference tool for all linguists as well as a collector's item for those in allied fields, enabling even an amateur to identify foreign scripts with ease and satisfaction....to be recommended.' Modern Language Review

'A wholly fascinating mini-kaleidoscope indicating the largely diverse variety of the world's main languages and their scripts and of their cultures.' The Good Book Guide

From the Publisher