Introduction to Indo-European Linguistics (Oxford Linguistics) by Oswald J. L. Szemerényi (PDF)

Description

This translation of the German edition, first published in 1970, introduces the standard text on the comparative-historical method to an English-speaking audience. After surveying the general principles of diachronic-comparative linguistics, the book uses these principles to analyze the phonological and morphological structure of the Indo-European language group. Each section of the book has a detailed bibliography, so readers can progress from the general overview to a more in-depth examination of particular topics.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review `draws confidently on data from all of the Indo-European branches.’ Sino-Platonic Papers No.107, Sept. 2000.`… this work is now so much more widely accessible … it will truly be a fitting memorial to Oswald Szemerenyi’ J. H. W. Penney, Kratylos Edition 44 1999`Szemerenyi’s standard introduction to the comparative philology of Indo-European has thankfully been made available in English. Beautifully set out, it represents the thoroughly revised and (especially in respect of bibliography) enlarged edition of 1990. … a masterpiece of clarity and conciseness.’ J. C. Wright, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies About the Author Oswald J. L. Szemerenyi is at University of Freiberg.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I am not a professional when it comes to linguistics. I am just an interested party with some facility with languages. I’ve progressed to the point where I want to learn something about linguistics as opposed to just the languages. I chose this one because most of the languages I know are IE ones.I found this to be an effective text, explaining the basics, as they apply to Indo European, and going over the grammar and morphology. I learned what I set out to learn but did not particularly enjoy the experience.I cannot say that my lack of excitement is due to the dryness of the text. I suspect that was a part of it but another part is that I just don’t have the formal training to appreciate it properly.This text worked for me and I want to learn more but I hope the next one will be more interesting.

⭐Virtually new condition.

⭐As a Classics major hoping to do postgraduate study in comparative Indo-European linguistics, I was in need of a basic introduction to the field, and this work of Szemerenyi seemed useful. However, INTRODUCTION TO INDO-EUROPEAN LINGUISTICS (a 1990 translation from the German by the author himself) was something of a disappointment.The datedness of the theory in the book heavily reduces its usefulness. While some recent work has been taken into account–it explains, for example, that the Praenestine brooch is a forgery–Szemerenyi was the last holdout against laryngeal theory, perhaps the most useful breakthrough in PIE phonology of the 20th century. He does explain the theory (or a strawman), but calls it highly incredulous and doesn’t use laryngeals in reconstructions of vocabulary. Therefore, the view of the proto-language’s phonology in this book follows the beliefs of over 50 years ago, and will not match anything in the other contemporary handbooks. While it is important to understand the various views that have been held over the last two hundred years, one feels cheated if one has placed a great deal of trust in, for example, the existence of two schwas when the laryngeal theory removes the need for such sounds.The book’s saving grace is that it does have a copious biography, which makes it somewhat useful. However, other current handbooks usually have the same amount of useful references. If you are interested in comparative Indo-European linguistics, I would recommend any other handbook published in the last 15 years. Lehmann’s THEORETICAL BASES OF INDO-EUROPEAN LINGUISTICS is, in my opinion, the best and most friendly for people entirely new to the field.

⭐Excelent book for the linguist and everyone deeply interested in perscruting the hardship of reconstructing an extinct language like the Indo-european (or Proto Indo-european, if you will). The author, a pretty known scholar of the matter, goes all lenghts to reconstruct the I.E.language trough deep change analysis of its branch languages, like Latin, Sanscrit, Greek and many others, a toilsome work which is shown in a lot of hard to grasp Tables. But, all this is really an overkill for a person like me, who only wants to know what indo-european looks like, but does not want to go to, or does not have the necessary basis to go into such a detail. Even despite being an overkill to me, it certainly is a book we feel a lot of pleasure reading, giving the detailed account the author gives when reconstructing the language. Praise to him!!

⭐Just the book that I needed. Clearly printed, good to read. I’m on page 70 now, and there are NO misprints, that’s quite unnatural! Nevertheless, the edges get dirty quickly and corners rumple, so better use a cover, and wash your hands before reading, this book is worthy of that! =)

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