Principles of Historical Linguistics

Frontmatter; Contents; Maps and charts; 1. Introduction; 2. Phonetics, transcription, terminology, abbreviations; 3. Sound change: The regularity hypothesis; 4. Sound change and phonological contrast; 5. Sound change: Assimilation, weakening, loss; 6. Sound change: Dissimilation, haplology, metathesis; 7. Sound change: Epenthesis, elimination of hiatus, other changes; 8. Sound change: Structure and function; 9. Analogy: General discussion and typology; 10. Analogy: Tendencies of analogical change; 11. Analogy and generative grammar; 12. Semantic change; 13. Syntactic change
Historical linguistic theory and practice contains a great number of different 'layers' which have been accepted in the course of time and have acquired a permanency of their own. These range from neogrammarian conceptualizations of sound change and analogy to present-day ideas on rule change and language mixture. To get a full grasp of the principles of historical linguistics it is therefore necessary to understand the nature and justifications (or shortcomings) of each of these 'layers', not just to look for a single 'overarching' theory. The major purpose of the book is to provide in up-to-