[ [ [ The Languages of the Andes[ THE LANGUAGES OF THE ANDES ] By Adelaar, Williams F. H. ( Author )Jun-10-2004 Hardcover

Cambridge Language Surveys

by Willem F.H. Adelaar

The Andean and Pacific regions of South America are home to a remarkable variety of languages and language families, with a range of typological differences. This linguistic diversity results from a complex historical background, comprising periods of greater communication between different peoples and languages, and periods of fragmentation and individual development. The Languages of the Andes is the first book in English to document in a single volume the indigenous languages spoken and formerly spoken in this linguistically rich region, as well as in adjacent areas. Grouping the languages into different cultural spheres, it describes their characteristics in terms of language typology, language contact, and the social perspectives of present-day languages. The authors provide both historical and contemporary information, and illustrate the languages with detailed grammatical sketches. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book will be a valuable source for students and scholars of linguistics and anthropology alike.

Genres: Language

Hardcover

First published June 10, 2004

Reviews

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dense, has a nice introduction on Andean history and geography. References, and bibliography are huge. I read it because I am interested in a supposed secret language Incas nobility had. But it does not get into speculations, there are some early European accounts that says so, but it does not go any further. The mentioned language “Puquina” was a general knowledge language on southern Peru that was already disappearing even before Europeans set foot on the Andes.