German, a linguistic history to 1945 / by C.J. Wells.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wells, C. J.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

German language--History.

German language.

History.

Physical Description:

xvi, 591 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford [Oxfordshire] : Clarendon Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1985.

Summary:

The first history of the German language to bridge the gap between the introductory handbook level and the more specialized journal articles, this volume offers students and teachers a treatment of the subject that is up to date, comprehensive, and stimulating. After outlining problems of language change and reviewing various theoretical approaches--including structuralist, generative, and sociolinguistic theories--Wells integrates internal and external linguistic history through the novel technique of perspective shift, using a different level of language to illustrate each period up to the 17th century. The author also discusses sociolinguistic developments in later medieval German, and provides a synthesis of recent material of the modern period that is not easily available.

Notes:

Bibliography: pages 489-542.

Includes index.

ISBN:

0198157959 :

0198158092

OCLC:

11091161