What was the first language, and where did it come from? Do all languages have properties in common? What is the relationship of language to thought? Fifty Key Thinkers on Language and Linguistics explores how fifty of the most influential figures in the field have asked and have responded to classic questions about language. Each entry includes a discussion of the person’s life, work and ideas as well as the historical context and an analysis of his or her lasting contributions. Thinkers include:
Aristotle Samuel Johnson Friedrich Max Müller Ferdinand de Saussure Joseph H. Greenberg Noam Chomsky

Fully cross-referenced and with useful guides to further reading, this is an ideal introduction to the thinkers who have had a significant impact on the subject of Language and Linguistics.

Contents

Alphabetical List of Contents. Chronological List of Contents. Acknowledgements. Introduction. Fifty Key Thinkers on Language and Linguistics. Glossary. Index

Author Bio

Margaret Thomas is Professor of Linguistics, in the Department of Slavic and Eastern Languages and Literatures at Boston College. She is past president of the North American Association for the History of the Language Sciences, and the author of Universal Grammar in Second Language Acquisition: A History (Routledge 2004).