Linguistic Typology : Morphology and Syntax (Longman Linguistics Library)

There are generally estimated to be between 4,000 and 6,000 languages in the world. This number alone gives an idea of the immense diversity of languages: at the same time, there also has to be an underlying unity to human languages. Linguistic Typology is the study of the structural similarities between languages, regardless of their history, to establish a classification of languages. It provides an accessible overview of the most prominent areas of study and research in language typology, illustrated with many examples taken from a wide range of languages. Jae Jong Song offers an explanation for the different ways in which languages behave, and considers why languages are the way they are.