The Balkan Languages [Hardcover]

Numerous languages in the Balkans have converged over time, structurally and lexically. This survey explains how and why.Covering the full extent of the languages in the Balkan convergence zone, this groundbreaking volume provides the first comprehensive, book-length survey on the Balkan languages in English. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the Balkan languages. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.Covering the full extent of the languages in the Balkan convergence zone, this groundbreaking volume provides the first comprehensive, book-length survey on the Balkan languages in English. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the Balkan languages. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.Southeast Europe's Balkan peninsula is home to numerous languages that have come to converge structurally and lexically, due to complex social factors involving contact among speakers of these languages, constituting a 'sprachbund'. This volume provides the first comprehensive, book-length survey of the Balkan languages in English. It covers the full range of languages involved in the Balkan convergence zone, including Albanian, Aromanian, Bulgarian, Gagauz, Greek, Judezmo, Macedonian, Meglenoromanian, Romani, Romanian, Torlak, and West Rumelian Turkish. Balkan convergences - 'Balkanisms' - are presented, considering the grammatical domains of phonetics, phonology, morphology, morphosyntax, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and lexicon. It gives attention to relevant notions of contact linguistics and to the history of the field, while also introducing key conceptual innovations. Providing fresh data and perspectives on the most studied intense contact situation, this work is essential reading for anyone interested in Balkan languages. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.Preface; Acknowledgements; User's guide to this book; Introduction; 1. The Balkan Peninsula and its languages; 2. History lÃw