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Questions related to the origin and history of the Basque language spark considerable interest, since it is the only surviving pre-Indo-European language in western Europe. However, until now, there was no readily available source in English providing answers to these questions or giving an overview of past and current research in this area. This book is intended to partly fill this void. The book contains both state-of-the-art papers which summarize our knowledge about particular areas of Basque historical linguistics, and articles presenting new hypotheses and points of view based on hard evidence and careful analysis. All contributors to this volume have demonstrated expertise in the topic within Basque historical linguistics that their chapter addresses. Two classical articles by the late Luis Michelena are included in English translation. In addition, the book includes studies on diachronic phonology, morphology and syntax. The relation of Basque to other languages is also investigated in a couple of chapters.
A thorough introduction is followed by texts from numerous authors presenting arguments on the excellence or inferiority of the Basque language. "From the seventeenth through the nineteenth centuries... a number of Spanish and French authors made it their business to point out the barbarity and lack of literary development of the Basque language... On the other hand, the Basque apologists sought to legitimize the [language and foral system] through the creation of a construct, more or less mythical in essence, which with great frequency relied on the excellence of the Basque language for its justification... This anthology attempts to present the most important works of this secular polemic."
Basque is the sole survivor of the very ancient languages of Western Europe. This book, written by an internationally renowned specialist in Basque, provides a comprehensive survey of all that is known about the prehistory of the language, including pronunciation, the grammar and the vocabulary. It also provides a long critical evaluation of the search for its relatives, as well as a thumbnail sketch of the language, a summary of its typological features, an external history and an extensive bibliography.
List of members included in most vols
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