Languages

How many languages are there? What differentiates one language from another? Are new languages still being discovered? Why are so many languages disappearing? The diversity of languages today is varied, but it is steadily declining. In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen Anderson answers the above questions by looking at the science behind languages. Considering a wide range of different languages and linguistic examples, he demonstrates how languages are not uniformly distributed around the world; just as some places are more diverse than others in terms of plants and animal species, the same goes for the distribution of languages. Exploring the basis for linguistic classification and raising questions about how we identify a language, as well as considering signed languages as well as spoken, Anderson examines the wider social issues of losing languages, and their impact in terms of the endangerment of cultures and peoples. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Product details

• Authors: Stephen Anderson, Stephen (Dorothy R. Diebold Professor of Linguistics Anderson
• Publisher: Oxford University Press Trade
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.07.2012
• EAN: 9780199590599
• ISBN: 978-0-19-959059-9
• Dimensions: 115 mm x 175 mm x 8 mm
• Series: Very Short Introductions; A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION; A Very Short Introductions; A VERY SHORT INTRODUCTION; Very Short Introductions; A Very Short Introductions; Very Short Introduction
• Subjects: Education and learning; Anthropology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Anthropology / General, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Sign Language, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Alphabets & Writing Systems, Language: history & general works, Historical & comparative linguistics, Language: history and general works, Historical and comparative linguistics, Sign languages, Braille & other linguistic communication, Sign languages, Braille and other linguistic communication