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Abram de Swaan - Words of the World: The Global Language System - 9780745627472 - V9780745627472
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Words of the World: The Global Language System

€ 72.70
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Description for Words of the World: The Global Language System Hardback. This bold and accessible study of human languages and communication explores issues which are at the forefront of todaya s globalized society. The human species is divided into more than five thousand language groups that do not understand each other. Num Pages: 266 pages, black & white illustrations. BIC Classification: CFB; CFF; GTC. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (UP) Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly; (UU) Undergraduate. Dimension: 162 x 236 x 23. Weight in Grams: 540.
This bold and accessible study of human languages and communication explores issues which are at the forefront of today's globalized society.

The human species is divided into more than five thousand language groups that do not understand each other. And yet these groups constitute one coherent world language system, connected by multilingual speakers in a surprisingly powerful way. The chances of a language thriving depend on its position in the system. There are thousands of small, peripheral languages, each connected to one of a hundred central languages. The entire system is held together by one global language: English. ... Read more

This important book discusses a number of specific constellations in detail: India, Indonesia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa and the European Union. De Swaan concludes by providing a sober but illuminating view of language policy in multilingual societies. This book will be essential reading for those studying sociology, communication studies and linguistics.

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Product Details

Format
Hardback
Publication date
2001
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Ltd United Kingdom
Number of pages
266
Condition
New
Number of Pages
272
Place of Publication
Oxford, United Kingdom
ISBN
9780745627472
SKU
V9780745627472
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 7 to 11 working days
Ref
99-1

About Abram de Swaan
Abram de Swaan is Chairman of the Amsterdam School of Social Research (ASSR) at the University of Amsterdam.

Reviews for Words of the World: The Global Language System
"Abram de Swaan is the world's leading political sociologist of language. He has a profound knowledge of the complex history interlinking states and languages and an equally acute understanding of individual incentives to learn languages. Here he applies his insights and methods – with surprising results
to globalization and its implications for the survival of world languages. Words of ... Read more

Goodreads reviews for Words of the World: The Global Language System


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