Description
More than 22 million people speak Dutch-primarily in Holland, Belgium, Suriname, and the Antilles. This book offers a well-researched and highly readable survey of the language in all its historical, geographic, and social aspects. In addition to providing a general introduction to the evolution of Dutch, Willemyns pays special attention to oft-neglected topics, such as the question of whether Dutchmen and Flemings are separated by a common language, and the contentious matter of the spread of Dutch abroad through colonization, which led to "exotic" variations such as Afrikaans, pidgins, and creoles. Dutch: Biography of a Language will appeal to students of Dutch and general readers interested in the history of the language.
About the Author
Roland Willemyns is Emeritus Professor of Dutch Linguistics at Vrije Universiteit Brussels
Reviews
All in all, Willemyns' biography of Dutch is a very dense book, clearly striving to provide as much information as possible on the history of Dutch. It remains, however, a very readable book, suitable for different groups of readers ranging from interested non-native speakers and foreigners to specialists in the Dutch language. * Ulrike Vogel, Journal of Historical Sociolinguistics *
a survey that brings a broad public up to date with the evolution of a language through centuries of contacts and conflicts with other tongues. Finally, you can trace the entire history of Dutch in an English-language book. * Andy Furniere, Flanders Today *
Willemyns has splendidly packed a great deal of fascinating material into 260 pages of this highly readable and comprehensive survey * Joe Sinclair, Nurturing Potential *
This book drives home the sociohistorical complexity of the language [with] fascinating illustrations of questions of linguistic form * Kathryn Woolard, Language in Society *
vivid and clear ... a wonderful book * Neder-L *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199858712
Author Roland Willemyns
Format Hardback
Page Count 312
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 544g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 236mm * 25mm
About the Author
Roland Willemyns is Emeritus Professor of Dutch Linguistics at Vrije Universiteit Brussels
Reviews
All in all, Willemyns' biography of Dutch is a very dense book, clearly striving to provide as much information as possible on the history of Dutch. It remains, however, a very readable book, suitable for different groups of readers ranging from interested non-native speakers and foreigners to specialists in the Dutch language. * Ulrike Vogel, Journal of Historical Sociolinguistics *
a survey that brings a broad public up to date with the evolution of a language through centuries of contacts and conflicts with other tongues. Finally, you can trace the entire history of Dutch in an English-language book. * Andy Furniere, Flanders Today *
Willemyns has splendidly packed a great deal of fascinating material into 260 pages of this highly readable and comprehensive survey * Joe Sinclair, Nurturing Potential *
This book drives home the sociohistorical complexity of the language [with] fascinating illustrations of questions of linguistic form * Kathryn Woolard, Language in Society *
vivid and clear ... a wonderful book * Neder-L *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199858712
Author Roland Willemyns
Format Hardback
Page Count 312
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 544g
Dimensions(mm) 155mm * 236mm * 25mm
