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teokajlibroj's review against another edition
5.0
This is pretty much everything you would want in a history of a language. Although it has a textbook format, it readable and enjoyable. I have no training in linguistics, yet I still enjoyed the book as it avoided getting bogged down in jargon. There was a good balance between the "external" factors such as the socio-political history and the "internal" such as the evolution of the vocabulary.
The author takes an honest and critical approach, not being afraid to debunk myths and overly-romantic notions, yet giving praise where praise is due. There is an excellent discussion of the language revival movement, with both its strengths and weaknesses.
The author takes an honest and critical approach, not being afraid to debunk myths and overly-romantic notions, yet giving praise where praise is due. There is an excellent discussion of the language revival movement, with both its strengths and weaknesses.
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