Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Australian Languages: Their Nature and Development
Authors and Contributors      By (author) R. M. W. Dixon
SeriesCambridge Language Surveys
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:780
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
Category/GenreHistorical and comparative linguistics
ISBN/Barcode 9780521046046
ClassificationsDewey:499.15
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations 38 Tables, unspecified; 33 Maps; 3 Line drawings, unspecified

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 5 November 2007
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Aboriginal people have been in Australia for at least 40,000 years, speaking about 250 languages. Through examination of published and unpublished materials on each of the individual languages, Professor Dixon surveys the ways in which the languages vary typologically and presents a profile of this long-established linguistic area. The areal distribution of most features is illustrated with more than 30 maps, showing that the languages tend to move in cyclic fashion with respect to many of the parameters. There is also an index of languages and language groups. Professor Dixon, a pioneering scholar in the field, brings an interesting perspective to this diverse and complex material.

Author Biography

R. M. W. Dixon is Director of the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology at La Trobe University.