Author : R.M.W. Dixon
Release : 2010-12-10
Genre : Language Arts & Disciplines
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 173/5 ( reviews)
GET EBOOK
Book Synopsis I am a Linguist by : R.M.W. Dixon
Download or read book I am a Linguist written by R.M.W. Dixon. This book was released on 2010-12-10. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I am a Linguist provides a fascinating account of the academic adventures of multi-faceted linguist, R.M.W. (Bob) Dixon. There is fieldwork (and lengthy grammars) on Dyirbal, Yidiñ and other Aboriginal languages of Australia, the Boumaa dialect of Fijian, and Jarawara from the dense jungles of Amazonia. Theoretical studies include adjective classes, ergativity and complement clauses. There are also detective novels, science fiction stories, and pioneering work on blues and gospel discography. Interspersed with the autobiographical narrative are explanations of how linguistics is a scientific discipline, of the development of universities, of diminishing academic standards, and of the treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia. The book is written in an easy, accessible style with numerous illustrative anecdotes. It will be an inspiration to young linguists and of interest to the general reader curious about what a scientific linguist does.