Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin
Otto Jespersen, the Danish linguist and professor at the University of Copenhagen, published Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin in 1922, drawing together the work of a lifetime. The first book reviews the history of linguistic science from antiquity through the comparative philologists of the nineteenth century. Jespersen then examines how children learn to speak, how foreigners and contact between peoples shape languages, and how languages change over time, arguing against the view that they decay from a perfect early state and proposing instead that they tend toward greater efficiency. The final part ventures a theory of the origin of speech. Learned yet lively, it remains a landmark of modern linguistics. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin
Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin by Otto Jespersen can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin online?
Yes. Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin in the public domain?
Yes. Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin by Otto Jespersen is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin?
About 12 h 51 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin?
Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin by Otto Jespersen is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
