An Introduction to the Languages of the World

Table of Contents

List of Tablesxiii
List of Figuresxvii
Symbols and Abbreviationsxix
General symbolsxix
General abbreviationsxxi
Glossing abbreviationsxxi
Language codesxxii
Phonetic symbolsxxxv
1Classification of Languages1
1.1Genetic classification1
1.2Typological classification of languages15
1.3Exercises26
1.4Suggested readings28
2Classification of Writing Systems31
2.1Typological classification of writing systems31
2.2Genetic classification of writing systems44
2.3Exercises51
2.4Suggested readings53
3Europe55
3.1Indo-European56
3.2Uralic71
3.3Caucasus area75
3.4Basque79
3.5Sketch of Russian80
3.6Sketch of Finnish103
3.7Exercises121
3.8Suggested readings125
4Asia127
4.1Altaic area127
4.2Paleosiberian area136
4.3Sino-Tibetan137
4.4Hmong-Mien142
4.5Tai-Kadai144
4.6Austroasiatic145
4.7Dravidian147
4.8Burushaski148
4.9Other languages in Asia149
4.10Sketch of Mandarin Chinese149
4.11Sketch of Classical Tibetan165
4.12Exercises189
4.13Suggested readings194
5Africa197
5.1Afro-Asiatic198
5.2Nilo-Saharan208
5.3Niger-Congo212
5.4Khoisan area220
5.5Other languages in Africa222
5.6Sketch of Modern Standard Arabic223
5.7Sketch of Swahili241
5.8Exercises259
5.9Suggested readings263
6Oceania265
6.1Austronesian265
6.2Papuan area272
6.3Australian area274
6.4Sketch of Hawaiian278
6.5Sketch of Dyirbal298
6.6Exercises318
6.7Suggested readings322
7The Americas325
North American area325
7.1Eskimo-Aleut327
7.2Na-Dene330
7.3Algic332
7.4Muskogean335
7.5Siouan336
7.6Iroquoian337
7.7Caddoan338
7.8Yuman338
7.9Sahaptian339
7.10Tsimshianic340
7.11Kiowa-Tanoan340
7.12Uto-Aztecan341
7.13Salishan343
Mesoamerican area344
7.14Oto-Manguean346
7.15Totonacan346
7.16Mixe-Zoquean346
7.17Mayan349
South American area349
7.18Intermediate area351
7.19Western Amazonia352
7.20Northern foothills355
7.21Andes region355
7.22Southern foothills357
7.23South358
7.24Central Amazonia360
7.25Northern Amazonia362
7.26Sketch of Central Alaskan Yupʼik363
7.27Sketch of Ayacucho Quechua372
7.28Exercises394
7.29Suggested readings397
8Language Birth, Death, and Revitalization401
8.1Mixed languages401
8.2Constructed languages403
8.3Pidgins404
8.4Creoles409
8.5Sign languages415
8.6Language endangerment and renewal423
8.7Sketch of Tok Pisin427
8.8Exercises445
8.9Suggested readings447
References451
Language Index465
Subject Index

Last change by Brett Kessler, 2016-09-03T11:44:06-0500