Principles of Linguistic Change

This book develops the general principles of linguistic change that form the foundations of historical linguistics, dialectology and sociolinguistics. * Demonstrates the social as well as cognitive relevance of linguistic research* Shows that rapid linguistic change is in progress in the cities of America and England so that urban dialects are becoming more and more differentiated* Discusses factors that govern the internal development of linguistic structures: the mechanisms of change, the constraints on change, and the ways in which change is embedded in the larger linguistic system