Home Change, Chance, and Optimality by April McMahon (ISBN: 9780198241249)

Stock photo: cover may vary

Change, Chance, and Optimality Hardback - 2000

Name: Change, Chance, and Optimality
Price: 18.53 GBP
Availability: InStock
Author: McMahon, April
ISBN: 9780198241249

by April McMahon

Add to wish list

Browse more copies for sale ↓

Reader reviews for Change, Chance, and Optimality

Write a review for this book

Important Terms and Guidelines

Please focus on the book’s content and context. Also, add any personal comments as to how you enjoyed the book. Substantiate your likes and dislikes. You may make comparisons to other books.
Reviews must be at least 140 characters in length.
Please do not reveal critical plot elements.
This is not a help line. Contact customer support if you need help.

Your review must not include:

Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other insulting language not suitable for public domain
Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers or websites.
Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses or other contact information.
Overly critical comments about other reviews or reviewers
Time-sensitive material (i.e. promotional tours, seminars, lectures, etc.)
Availability, price, or alternative ordering/shipping information

From the publisher

This book is about how languages change. It is also a devastating critique of a widespread linguistic orthodoxy. April McMahon argues that to provide a convincing explanation of linguistic change the roles of history and contingency must be accommodated in linguistic theory. She also shows that theoretical work in related disciplines can be used to assess the value of such theories.

Optimality Theory, or OT as it is usually called, dominates contemporary phonology, especially in the USA, and is becoming increasingly influential in syntax and language acquisition. Having set out its basis principles, Professor McMahon assesses their explanatory power in analysing language change and its residues in current phonological systems. Using cross-linguistic data, and drawing comparisons with other theories inside and outside linguistics, she shows that OT is incapable of accounting for language change, without the addition of rules and an appreciation of chance and historical contingency that would then undermine its theoretical underpinnings.

Details

Title Change, Chance, and Optimality
Author April McMahon
Binding Hardback
Edition First Edition
Pages 212
Volumes 1
Language ENG
Publisher Oxford University Press, Oxford
Publication date 2000-11-16
Illustrated Yes
Features Illustrated
ISBN 9780198241249 / 0198241240
Weight 1.05 lbs (0.48 kg)
Dimensions 9.21 x 6.14 x 0.5 in (23.39 x 15.60 x 1.27 cm)
Category Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy
Library of Congress subjects Evolution, Optimality theory (Linguistics)
Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2001274515
Dewey Decimal Code 417

About the author

Dr April McMahon has been Lecturer in Historical Linguistics and Phonology at the University of Cambridge since 1988. From March 2000 she will be Professor of English Language and Linguistics at the University of Sheffield. She is the author of Understanding Language Change (CUP, 1994) and Lexical Phonology and the History of English (CUP, forthcoming 2000), and has published articles and reviews in many journals. She has long-standing research interests in the relationship of phonological theory and sound change, and in interdisciplinary issues including connections between evolutionary theory, genetics and historical linguistics.

More Copies for Sale

Show all copies

Change, Chance, and Optimality

by McMahon, April

Used
Very good
Hardback

Condition: Very good
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13: 9780198241249 / 0198241240
Quantity available: 1
Seller: PsychoBabel & Skoob Books

Biblio Top Seller
Item price: A$36.11

A$20.46 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Hardcover. Minor wear to jacket's edges; corners and spine ends faintly bumped; small mark on FEP. Pages thereafter are clean and sound; all text is clear. TS. Hardcover. Very Good. Used.

Add to wish list

Item price

A$36.11

A$20.46 Delivery to USA

Stock photo: cover may vary

Change, Chance, and Optimality (Oxford Linguistics)

by McMahon, April

New
Hardback
first

Condition: New
Edition: 1
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13: 9780198241249 / 0198241240
Quantity available: 10
Seller: Ergodebooks
Item price: A$82.25

Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2000-11-16. 1. hardcover. New. 9.21x6.14x0.50. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Add to wish list

Item price

A$82.25

Free Delivery to USA

Stock photo: cover may vary

Change, Chance, and Optimality

by McMahon, April

Used
Very good
Hardback

Condition: Very good
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13: 9780198241249 / 0198241240
Quantity available: 1
Seller: Rob Briggs Books

Biblio Top Seller
Item price: A$95.73

A$10.21 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:

Cary, North Carolina, U.S.A.: Oxford Univ Pr on Demand, 2000. Hardback in very good + condition with very good dust jacket. Remainder marks on bottom edge of pages.. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good.

Add to wish list

Item price

A$95.73

A$10.21 Delivery to USA

Change, Chance, and Optimality

by April McMahon

New
Hardback

Condition: New
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13: 9780198241249 / 0198241240
Quantity available: 10
Seller: The Saint Bookstore

Biblio Top Seller
Item price: A$157.61

A$19.39 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:

Hardback. New. This book is about how languages change. It is also a critique of Optimality Theory - the dominant theory in contemporary phonology and increasingly influential throughout linguistics. The author sets out its basis principles and shows it to be incapable of explaining either language change or variation.