Atlas of the World’s Languages

Abstract

This unique global Atlas has been carefully designed to show the location of every living language. Depicting the diversity of the speaking world, over 4000 languages have been fully and accurately mapped - no matter how few the number of speakers. Even languages on the point of extinction are included. Access to the World's Languages The Atlas is organized in 8 sections, each of which has been edited by language experts for that area. Each section begins with an introductory article and an extensive, explanatory text to set the languages of the region in context. A general linguistic history of the area is provided, together with the genetic relations of the languages within it and their characteristic features. Sociolinguistic and statistical data (including population figures) are also given. Useful bibliographies direct the reader to additional sources. Detailed, colour maps of the region follow, beginning with a key map which shows at a glance the area covered by each map in the section. Unique time-of-contact maps for Australasia and The Americas show the effect of contact with Western civilisation on the linguistic profile of the continent. Any language can be found by consulting the comprehensive Language Index, where a map reference number and a Key reference number is given. Each detailed map is accompanied by a colour-coded key, and by using the number on the key, the corresponding colour on the map can be located. The key is constructed to indicate the genetic relationship of a given language to those around it, and where more than one language is spoken in the area. The Atlas is an essential resource for all students, teachers and researchers in language and linguistics. In addition, it will be a valuable source for other areas of study, such as ethnography, cultural history, anthropology, politics and geography. Select Contents 1) The Americas M. Tait, University of Edinburgh and T.Kaufman, University of Pittsburgh 2) Australasia and the Pacific S. Wurm, Australian National University. 3) East and South-East Asia S.Harlow, University of York, UK and D.Bradley, La Trobe University, Australia 4) South Asia R.E.Asher, University of Edinburgh 5) Northern Asia and Eastern Europe B.Comrie, University of Southern California 6) Western Europe J.L.MacKenzie, Free University of Amsterdam 7) Middle East and North Africa A. Irvine, SOAS, University of London 8) Sub-Saharan Africa B. Wald, African Language Policy Consultant, USA. Special Features: * Provides the first up-to-date, scholarly and detailed mapping of all the world's languages * 135 full-colour maps * Clearly presented colour format - at a glance access to every language and its genetic affiliation * Unique time-of-contact maps for Australasia and the Americas, showing the effect of contact with Western civilization on the linguistic profile for these continents * Detailed bibliographies - classic and new - for each section * Comprehensive language index

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