The Indo-Aryan Languages
In his ambitious survey of the Indo-Aryan languages, Masica has provided a fundamental, comparative introduction that will interest not only general and theoretical linguists but also students of one or more languages (Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujurati, Marathi, Sinhalese, etc.) who want to acquaint themselves with the broader linguistic context. Generally synchronic in approach, concentrating on the phonology, morphology and syntax of the modern representatives of the group, the volume also covers their historical development, writing systems, and aspects of sociolinguistics.
- Comprehensive, up-to-date survey of major language group
- Of interest to theoretical linguists but also accessible to students of particular Indian languages
- Includes appendices of Indo-Aryan languages and dialects and their subclassifications
Reviews & endorsements
"...this should prove to be a practical and serviceable reference book for many years to come." Canadian Journal of Linguistics
"This is a wonderful piece of scholarship...No anthropological linguist planning work in South Asia should leave home without it." American Anthropologist
"...Masica's text is a valuable addition to the Indo-Europeanist's library and is a must for Aryan studies. It is destined to become a classic." Jacob Caflisch, Sr., Language Quarterly
"...Dr. Masica is to be congratulated on assembling and organizing so much material, much of it little known, with the clarity and accuracy he has done and in maintaining the identifiable perspective of a single scholar on it....This very fine book will be much used and will not easily be replaced as a guide to the structure, modes of functioning, evolving interrelationships, and unresolved complexities of its varied subject-matter." Journal of the American Oriental Society
"...a genuine monument of erudition....Dr. Masica is remarkably conversant with all the available information and he digests it exceedingly well for the non-specialist and for the scholar as well....The volume is completed by rich appendices, copious notes and indices, as well as a very detailed bibliography. Clear tables illustrate the discussion." Journal of Indo-European Studies
Product details
September 1993Paperback
9780521299442
560 pages
229 × 152 × 32 mm
0.81kg
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The modern Indo-Aryan languages and dialects
- 3. The historical context and development of Indo-Aryan
- 4. The nature of the New Indo-Aryan lexicon
- 5. NIA descriptive phonology
- 6. Writing systems
- 7. Historical phonology
- 8. Nominal forms and categories
- 9. Verbal forms and categories
- 10. Syntax
- Appendix I Inventory of NIA languages and dialects
- Appendix II Schemes of NIA subclassification.