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 l…
Horace's day than with an Englishman of the Middle Ages. Lastly, to read and understand Latin, you need to think clearly; this is a skill which is essential in all academic subjects and, indeed, in the whole of life. It would be wrong to pretend that Latin is easy but we hope our course will make the process of learning it both interesting and enjoyable.
We don’t usually think of speaking as similar to chewing, licking and sucking, but, like speaking, all of these actions involve movements of the mouth, tongue and lips in some kind of controlled way. So, perhaps this connection is not as improbable as it first sounds. It is an example of the type of observation that can lead to interesting speculations about the origins of spoken language. Th…
Many children and adults experience considerable difficulty producing or understanding a spoken language despite having adequate hearing levels. Some of these persons may benefit from learning a full and genuine sign language, such as one of the sign languages used by members of a Deaf1 community. They may acquire a substantial vocabulary of signs and learn to combine them into complex s…
Inquisitive semantics is a new semantic framework mainly intended forthe analysis of linguistic information exchange. Information exchangecan be seen as a process of raising and resolving issues. Inquisitivesemantics provides a new formal notion of issues, which makes itpossible to model various concepts that are crucial for the analysis oflinguistic information exchange in a more refined and m…
Research in the fields of conversation analysis, ethnomethodology, and inter-actional linguistics is perhaps closest to the approach taken here, for a few rea-sons. One is that the empirical source of data is recordings of informal interaction.Another is that the units of analysis are not clauses or sentences but moves in con-versational sequences (Wootton 1981;1997;Lindström 2005;Vinkhuyzen &…
Just as plant and animal lineages are not uniformly distributed around the world, the same is true for the distribution of language families. As of 2017 the Ethnologue list includes around 50 distinct language families covering 7099 living languages, some of which, like Austronesian, have spread over a huge geographical range while others, like Amuric, have only a single living member (i.e., Ni…
The physical seclusion of the village and the social aloofness of the Kanashicommunity have contributed to the maintenance of its traditional culture and lan-guage,butrecentdevelopmentsarethreateningthetraditionallifestyle,includingthe language, where especially contact with Hindi4is becoming an integral partof the villagers’ daily lives. This is the latest episode in a long history of contin…
German: An Essential Grammar is a practical reference guide to the core structures and features of modern German. Presenting a fresh and accessible description of the language, this engaging grammar uses clear, jargon-free explanations and sets out the complexities of German in short, readable sections. Suitable for either independent study or for students in schools, colleges, universities …
he Tuttle MORE Chinese for Kids Flash Cards (Simplified Character Edition) kit is an introductory Mandarin language learning tool especially designed to help children from preschool through early elementary level acquire basic words, Chinese characters, phrases, and sentences in Chinese in a fun and easy way. The flashcards can be used as a learning tool in a classroom setting, at home, or a…
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psych…
The primary sources for this work are the fragments of Akajeru (words, phrases and some short sentences) contained (passim) in the pages of Alfred R. Radcliffe-Brown’s monograph The Andaman Islanders (1922), which gathers the results of his anthropological research carried out on the Andamans between 1906 and 1908. Although the languages of the archipelago wer…
This is an introduction to 1000 common words in classical Arabic. Arranged thematically, many of the pages show an everyday scene, surrounded by pictures of objects from the scene with their Arabic names. An Arabic/English dictionary of all the words is included.
Perkembangan China yang begitu pesat, didukung kuatnya pengaruh globalisasi, membuat kebutuhan menguasai bahasa Mandarin tidak terhindarkan lagi. Bahasa ini kian populer dipelajari hampir semua kalangan, baik komunitas Tionghoa maupun komunitas lain, untuk pergaulan, pendidikan, dan bisnis. Ngomong Mandarin, Ngobrolin China disusun oleh Penulis yang mengantongi berbagai prestasi di dalam dan lu…
Learn to read and write Chinese with Chineasy—a groundbreaking approach that transforms key Chinese characters into pictograms for easy recall and comprehension. Chinese is one of the oldest written languages, and one of the most difficult to master, especially for Westerners. With Chineasy, learning and reading Chinese has never been simpler or more fun. Breaking down the Great Wall of La…
Learn Old English (Anglo-Saxon) with this best-selling course from Teach Yourself - the No. 1 brand in language learning. Equally suited to general reader, historian and student of literature, this new edition teaches vocabulary and grammar through original texts, with audio support, traces the roots of modern English words, and explores the Anglo-Saxon cultural context through poems, prose and…
Lynda Mugglestone's hugely popular The Oxford History of English is now updated and entirely reset in a new edition featuring David Crystal's new take on the future of English in the wider world. In accounts made vivid with examples from a vast range of documentary evidence that includes letters, diaries, and private records, fifteen scholars trace the history of English from its ancient Ind…
Middle Egyptian introduces the reader to the writing system of ancient Egypt and the language of hieroglyphic texts. It contains twenty-six lessons, exercises (with answers), a list of hieroglyphic signs, and a dictionary. It also includes a series of twenty-five essays on the most important aspects of ancient Egyptian history, society, religion and literature. The combination of grammar lesson…
This simple and effective introduction to Greek teaches everything one needs to speak, understand, read, and write in Greek. This program assumes no background in the language, and it explains each new concept clearly with plenty of examples, making it ideal for beginners or anyone who wants a thorough review.
A reliable, portable and easy-to-use phrasebook is a travel essential, and with Collins Gem phrasebook and dictionary, the right word will always be at your fingertips. This indispensable language guide covers the topics and phrases that crop up everyday when traveling, from finding a hotel to choosing wine. It includes travel information and tips, a 3,000 word dictionary, a comprehensive menu …
Uncover the everyday Mandarin Chinese as it's spoken on the streets and in the alleys of China. With the help of Streetwise Mandarin Chinese, you'll get clued in on the frequently used idioms, colloquialisms, and slang currently used by Chinese speakers of all walks of life. The accompanying audio recordings include thirty dialogues performed by native speakers that bring the language of the st…
This simple and effective introduction to Tagalog will teach you everything you need to speak, understand, read, and write in Tagalog. This program assumes no background in the language, and it explains each new concept clearly with plenty of examples, making it ideal for beginners or anyone who wants a thorough review.
The only up-to-date frequency dictionary of Spanish currently available, this is an invaluable tool for all learners of Spanish that provides a list of the 5,000 most commonly used words in the language. Based on a twenty million word corpus evenly divided between spoken, fiction and non-fiction texts from both Spain and Latin America, the Dictionary provides a detailed frequency-based list,…
The present study focuses on folk stereotypes of interconnections between the phys-ical and the metaphysical worlds in Polish language and culture. It takes as its point of departure relations between three concepts: lud (the folk), kultura ludowa (folk culture) and religijno?? ludowa (folk religiosity/folk religious practices). The terms have long stirred heated debate and controversy …
The invention of an easily learned Korean alphabet in the mid-fifteenth century sparked an “epistolary revolution” in the following century as letter writing became an indispensable daily practice for elite men and women alike. The amount of correspondence increased exponentially as new epistolary networks were built among scholars and within families, and written culture created room for a…
Introducing Italian culture and people through the medium of the language used today, Basic Italian: A Grammar and Workbook provides readers with the basic tools to express themselves in a wide variety of situations. Presenting twenty-three individual grammar points in lively and realistic contexts, Basic Italian is an accessible reference grammar with related exercises in one, easy to follo…
Russian-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary comes with more than 10,000 illustrated terms that are arranged by themes and situations, making learning easy. Whether you are out grocery shopping or find yourself in the middle of an official meeting, this handy guide will always be at your side. The stunning visuals and comprehensive indexes make this an indispensable and comprehensive Russian lan…
This book presents twenty-five individual grammar points, covering the core material which students would expect to encounter in their first year of learning Korean. Grammar points are followed by examples and exercises which allow students to reinforce and consolidate their learning.
The Routledge Modern Greek Reader has been specially designed for post-beginners to advanced learners of Greek. Written by an experienced instructor, this innovative reader offers both students and teachers of Modern Greek the pedagogical tools to utilise richly textured folktale material in a language class. Students can develop their linguistic skills while simultaneously engaging with the…
We all hate text books that begin with "Hello, what's your name?", don't we? "The Mystery of Nils" is a coherent story, which starts very simply, but develops into a fascinating novel. Can't stop reading? Well then ? you will have to learn Norwegian! We have carefully selected the most frequently used words in the Norwegian language and made sure that the story is primarily made up of them. …
Are you looking for a complete course in Czech which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Complete Czech will guarantee success! Now fully updated to make your language learning experience fun and interactive. You can still rely on the benefits of a top language teacher and our years of teaching experie…
Practice Makes Perfect: Basic French is the proven companion to your French-learning experience. In each bite-sized lesson, author Eliane Kurbegov explains one?and only one?grammar concept and illustrates it with clear examples. These lessons are purposefully short, so you can complete them in twenty minutes or less, and go at a pace that works for you. You will, or course, get plenty of pra…
Thai for beginner.
Get a solid foundation in Hindi with Practice Makes Perfect: Basic Hindi. You will learn everything from reading and writing the Devanagari script, to mastering of core vocabulary, basic grammar, and conversational structures. You will get clear guidance on writing the Hindi script; transliteration for all Hindi text in the first four chapters; and online recordings of key vocabulary and exp…
This Workbook presents twenty-five individual grammar points in realistic contexts, providing a grammatical approach which will allow students not already familiar with these structures to become accustomed to their use. Grammar points are followed by examples and exercises allowing students to reinforce and consolidate their learning. Suitable for class use or self-study, Basic Dutch introd…
Greek: An Essential Grammar is a concise and user-friendly reference guide to modern Greek. It presents a fresh and accessible description of the language in short, readable sections. Explanations are clear and supported by examples throughout. This new edition has been revised and updated to present an accurate and accessible description of the most important aspects of modern Greek.
The eighteenth century is an important period both in the history of science and in the history of languages. In this volume, seventeen authors explore, from a variety of angles, the construction of a scientific language and discourse. The chapters explore the forming of scientific communities, the emergence of new languages of science, the spread of scientific ideas, and the development of sci…
This title will help the international visitor-whether business or recreational-absorb essential vocabulary in Arabic.
Perfect for tourists, business travellers and students, DK's Korean English Bilingual Visual Dictionary is your essential companion when buying food, talking about work, discussing health, and studying the Korean language. The dictionary is incredibly easy to follow, with thematically organized vocabulary so you can find closely related words on a particular topic. Words and phrases are illu…
Learning Mandarin Chinese has never been this easy. This trusty travel companion features comprehensive definitions and colorful images of daily life, helping you appreciate the nuances of the language and master pronunciation. Keep the Mandarin Chinese-English Bilingual Dictionary by your side as you shop, eat, socialize, travel, and work. With more than 10,000 fully illustrated terms arra…
Here's Japanese-English Bilingual Visual Dictionary
Over the past thirty years, there has been growing interest in aspect, not somuch in traditional Romance research but rather in typological studies. Here,there has been intensive and increasing concern with the combination of those grammatical verbal categories that are often realised by morphological syncre-tism in many of the world’s languages, the so-called TMA categories: tense,mode and a…
Let us continue to seek better ways of supporting the speakers of endangered languages whose strong commitment to their mother tongue is the most decisive factor for language maintenance and ensuring sustainable results.
Whatever else people do when they come together—whether they play, fight, make love, or make automobiles—they talk. We live in a world of language. We talk to our friends, our associates, our wives and husbands, our lovers, our teachers, our parents, our rivals, and even our enemies. We talk face-to-face and over all manner of electronic media, and everyone responds with more talk. Hardly a…
Some dictionaries include language names among their entries, and you’ve probably seen lists that provide information about the number of speakers of various languages. When the U.S. Census Bureau compiles its census data each decade, it asks residents what language they speak and publishes that information. At the United Nations, most countries are represented, and their ambassadors must kno…