Word A Cross-linguistic Typology [Paperback]

Discusses the concept 'word' and its applicability in a range of typologically diverse languages.In this book, a distinguished international group of scholars discuss the concept 'word' and its applicability in a range of typologically diverse languages. The languages considered include Amazonian, Australian Aboriginal, Eskimo, Native North American, West African, Balkan and Caucasian languages, and Indo-Pakistani Sign Language. They exhibit a huge range of phonological, morphological and grammatical characteristics, the close study of which enables the contributors to refine our understanding of what can constitute a 'word'. The book will be an invaluable resource for scholars of linguistic typology and of morphology.In this book, a distinguished international group of scholars discuss the concept 'word' and its applicability in a range of typologically diverse languages. The languages considered include Amazonian, Australian Aboriginal, Eskimo, Native North American, West African, Balkan and Caucasian languages, and Indo-Pakistani Sign Language. They exhibit a huge range of phonological, morphological and grammatical characteristics, the close study of which enables the contributors to refine our understanding of what can constitute a 'word'. The book will be an invaluable resource for scholars of linguistic typology and of morphology.A distinguished international group of scholars analyze the concept of word and its applicability in a range of typologically diverse languages. The languages include Amazonian, Australian Aboriginal, Eskimo, Native North American, West African, Balkan, Caucasian and Indo-Pakistani Sign Language. They exhibit a great range of phonological, morphological and grammatical characteristics, enabling the contributors to refine the definition of a word against this broad linguistic landscape. The book is of interest to scholars of linguistic typology and of morphology.List of contributors; Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Word: a typls8