An introduction to African languages /
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| Author / Creator: | Childs, George Tucker. |
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| Imprint: | Amsterdam ; Philadelphia : John Benjamins Pub. Co., ©2003. |
| Description: | 1 online resource (xiv, 265 pages) : illustrations, maps |
| Language: | English |
| Subject: | |
| Format: | E-Resource Book |
| URL for this record: | http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/11186614 |
| Summary: | This book introduces beginning students and non-specialists to the diversity and richness of African languages. In addition to providing a solid background to the study of African languages, the book presents linguistic phenomena not found in European languages. A goal of this book is to stimulate interest in African languages and address the question: What makes African languages so fascinating? The orientation adopted throughout the book is a descriptive one, which seeks to characterize African languages in a relatively succinct and neutral manner, and to make the facts accessible to a wide variety of readers. The author's lengthy acquaintance with the continent and field experiences in western, eastern, and southern Africa allow for both a broad perspective and considerable depth in selected areas. The original examples are often the author's own but also come from other sources and languages not often referenced in the literature. This text also includes a set of sound files illustrating the phenomena under discussion, be they the clicks of Khoisan, talking drums, or the ideophones (words like English lickety-split ) found almost everywhere, which will make this book a valuable resource for teacher and student alike. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource (xiv, 265 pages) : illustrations, maps |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-260) and index. |
| ISBN: | 9789027295880 9027295883 158811421X 9781588114211 1588114228 9781588114228 9027226059 9789027226051 9027226067 9789027226068 |