- Author: Marco Condorelli, University of Central Lancashire, Preston
- Date Published: September 2022
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781009114172
Historical orthography – the study of how writing systems have changed over time – is a rapidly growing area of historical linguistics. This book provides the first comprehensive introduction to this exciting focus of research. Written in an engaging and accessible way, it surveys the purposes and methods of this field, and how it has developed as a discipline over time. The volume also discusses the various levels of analysis that historical orthography can carry out, as well as key historical orthographic processes, such as standardization and language change. It covers a range of non-western and western languages, including English, in order to discuss the breadth of typological issues that can arise in the documentation of writing systems. The book also establishes links between orthography and a range of other related disciplines, a quality which makes it an essential resource for advanced students of orthography and writing systems, and historical linguistics.
- Provides a comprehensive overview of the field of historical orthography
- Written in an accessible way to make it easy to understand for readers without a background in historical linguistics
- Establishes links between orthography and phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicography, as well as the semantics and pragmatics of language
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
Part I. Origins and Sources:
2. A short history of writing
3. Witnesses to historical writing
Part II. Elements of Orthography:
4. Orthographic components
5. Structure and presentation
Part III. Analysing Orthography:
6. Investigative approaches
7. Representation and interpretation
Part IV. Understanding Orthography:
8. Orthography and standardisation
9. Orthography and language change
10. Conclusion