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 Muller
• 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.

About the Author

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).

Book Information
ISBN 9780415373036
Author Margaret Thomas
Format Paperback
Page Count 310
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 610g