The Oxford Guide to the Languages of the Central Andes

Abstract

Abstract The Oxford Guide to the Languages of the Central Andes presents a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the languages of the Central Andes of Peru and Bolivia—the only such volume available in English. Descriptive efforts to document Central Andean languages, as well as philological research into colonial documentation and texts, have blossomed in recent decades; here, the major protagonists and drivers of these exciting developments are given the opportunity to showcase these research achievements in one volume. Internationally leading experts on particular languages contribute extensive descriptions that reflect current knowledge but often also add new aspects to our understanding of their phonological and grammatical structures. The volume also features substantial typological comparative analyses that reflect the pivotal role Central Andean languages have played in investigations into topics of current theoretical interest, such as notions of linguistic complexity and evidentiality. It includes chapters that shed light on the cultural, geographical, and sociolinguistic settings in which Central Andean languages are or were spoken, discusses past and present language contact situations, and considers philological aspects of their study. Central Andean languages have also played a key role in exploring the interfaces of historical linguistics with archeology, in particular the relationship between the introduction of agricultural techniques and language expansion in prehistory. Central Andean languages have influenced—and continue to influence—linguistic thinking in multiple respects; this volume is a nuanced and multifaceted yet coherent and substantial guide to these fascinating languages.

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