by Andrew Dalby (Author)
Covering the political, social and historical background of each language, Dictionary of Languages offers a unique insight into human culture and communication. Every language with official status is included, as well as all those that have a written literature and 175 'minor' languages with special historical or anthropological interest.We see how, with the rapidly increasing uniformity of our culture as media's influence spreads, more languages have become extinct or are under threat of extinction. The text is highlighted by maps and charts of scripts, while proverbs, anecdotes and quotations reveal the features that make a language unique.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 752
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published: 03 Jan 2005
ISBN 10: 0747576831
ISBN 13: 9780747576839
Book Overview: No other book sets out to explain the real human context of languages in such an accessible way. Authoritative and comprehensive, this is the essential reference work for anyone interested in language. In the United States, this title was named 'Outstanding Reference Source' by the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association