Selected papers from the 16th International Conference on Historical Linguistics, Copenhagen, 11–15 August 2003 This volume consists of 19 papers presented at the 16th International Conference on Historical Linguistics, which was held in August 2003 in Copenhagen and drew the largest number of participants and the widest array of languages that this important biannual conference has ever had. As with previous volumes, the papers selected cover a wide range of subjects besides the core areas of historical linguistics, and this time include studies on ethnolinguistics, grammaticalisation, language contact, sociolinguistics, and typology.
This volume brings together a selection of the papers given at ICHoLS IX, organized under three headings. In the first part, papers are presented dealing with studies ranging from the Latin model in post-Renaissance grammars until new scientific propositions at the turn of the 19th century; the second part carries articles devoted to a great variety of subjects; in the third section, are united five plenary presentations ranging from ancient Greek reflections upon language to developments in Brazilianlinguistics beginning with the implantation of structuralist work by Joaquim Mattoso Câmara (1904–1970) in the 1960s. In the concluding contribution, a survey of advances in the history of the language sciences is offered.
The articles of this volume are centered around two competing views on language change originally presented at the 2003 International Conference on Historical Linguistics in the two important plenary papers by Henning Andersen and William Croft. The latter proposes an evolutionary model of language change within a domain-neutral model of a ‘generalized analysis of selection’, whereas Henning Andersen takes it that cultural phenomena could not possibly be handled, i.e. observed, described, understood, in the same way as natural phenomena. These papers are models of succinct presentation of important theoretical framework. The other papers present and discuss additional models of change, e.g. invisible hand-processes, system-internal models, functional and cognitive models. Most papers do not subscribe to the evolutionary model; instead, they focus on functional factors in the selection and propagation of variants (as opposed to factors of code efficiency), or on cognitive and pragmatic perspectives.
This book is a stunning display of sheer intellectual and literary prowess! The authors have created a rollicking, sensual experience out of what is really a very boring topic. The plot twists and turns in unexpected places, but invariably comes back to the same dull old subject of grading papers. A true masterpiece that you'll find riveting.
