Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Classic Study of Speech, Grammar, Meaning, Acquisition, and the Evolution of LanguageBy Otto Jespersen
Length22h 39m
About this audiobook
Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin is Otto Jespersen's ambitious synthesis of general linguistics, tracing speech from sound and grammar to semantic change, language acquisition, and the debated beginnings of human expression. Written in a lucid, comparative style, it moves confidently between Indo-European evidence, English examples, phonetics, psychology, and evolutionary speculation. Situated between nineteenth-century historical philology and the emerging structural linguistics of the twentieth century, the book retains a broad humanistic scope while pressing toward a scientific account of language as a living, developing activity. Jespersen, the Danish linguist best known for his work on English grammar, phonetics, and language teaching, brought to this volume decades of comparative study and pedagogical reflection. His international scholarship and practical engagement with modern languages encouraged his suspicion of purely abstract systems and his interest in actual usage, communicative efficiency, and linguistic progress. These concerns shaped his distinctive, sometimes provocative arguments about gender, grammar, and the origins of speech. Readers interested in the history of linguistic thought will find this work indispensable. Though some hypotheses now require historical qualification, Jespersen's elegance, range, and intellectual daring make the book rewarding for linguists, literary scholars, and anyone seeking a foundational account of language as both structure and human achievement.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.2 (174)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon
GenreOther
Length22 hrs 39 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 23, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5PREFACE
Show all chaptersShow less
6ABBREVIATIONS OF BOOK TITLES, ETC.
7PHONETIC SYMBOLS
8BOOK I HISTORY OF LINGUISTIC SCIENCE
9CHAPTER I BEFORE 1800
10CHAPTER II BEGINNING OF NINETEENTH CENTURY
11CHAPTER III MIDDLE OF NINETEENTH CENTURY
12CHAPTER IV END OF NINETEENTH CENTURY
13BOOK II THE CHILD
14CHAPTER V SOUNDS
15CHAPTER VI WORDS
16CHAPTER VII GRAMMAR
17CHAPTER VIII SOME FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS
18CHAPTER IX THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHILD ON LINGUISTIC DEVELOPMENT
19CHAPTER X THE INFLUENCE OF THE CHILD— continued
20BOOK III THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD
21CHAPTER XI THE FOREIGNER
22CHAPTER XII PIDGIN AND CONGENERS
23CHAPTER XIII THE WOMAN
24CHAPTER XIV CAUSES OF CHANGE
25CHAPTER XV CAUSES OF CHANGE— continued
26BOOK IV THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE
27CHAPTER XVI ETYMOLOGY
28CHAPTER XVII PROGRESS OR DECAY?
29CHAPTER XVIII PROGRESS
30CHAPTER XIX ORIGIN OF GRAMMATICAL ELEMENTS
31CHAPTER XX SOUND SYMBOLISM
32CHAPTER XXI THE ORIGIN OF SPEECH
33Footnote
34Analysis
35Reflection
36Memorable Quotes
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