The Lillooet Language: The Lillooet Language Phonology,Morphology,Syntax (First Nations Languages) [Hardcover]

Jan Van Eijk (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0774806257 | ISBN-13: 978-0774806251 | Publication Date: January 1997

This timely book is the first complete descriptive grammar of Lillooet, an indigenous Canadian language spoken in British Columbia, now threatened with extinction. The author discusses three major aspects of the language -- sound system, word structure, and syntax -- in great detail. The classical structuralism method of analysis, as developed in North America by Leonard Bloomfield and his followers, is used to look at every aspect of Lillooet in terms of its function and position within the whole structure of the language. Van Eijk explains terms and procedures in order to make the book accessible not only to the advanced linguist, but also to the undergraduate student with basic linguistic training. Written with great clarity, and well organized, the book is illustrated with copious examples drawn from many years of fieldwork in St’át’imc territory.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A lasting contribution to Salish linguistics, the standard reference work for a gravely endangered indigenous Canadian language, a valuable sourcebook for teachers and speakers, and an ideal model for other linguists working on First Nations languages. - Henry Davis, Department of Linguistics, University of British Columbia It is a meticulous, well-researched, and well-written description of St’at’imcets(Lillooet) phonology and morphosyntax. The morphology section in particular is extremely thorough and insightful. The sections are clearly organized, with plentiful cross-references where appropriate. This is a first-class descriptive grammar, and is highly recommended to anyone interested in Salish or in the morphosyntax of head-marking languages more generally... Van Eijk has produced a remarkably thorough and comprehensive description of a language which, until he began work on it, had not previously received any real attention from linguists. Van Eijk’s ground-breaking work forms the foundation for the substantial amount of theoretical work which has been done on St’at’imcets in the past ten years. His description and analyses have also laid the foundation for current language revival and maintenance efforts in both dialect areas. I am delighted that this book has been published, and recommend it most highly. - Lisa Matthewson, CJL/RCL 44(2), 1999 ... does an excellent job of describing Lillooet grammar in a compact, informative, and intelligible manner; it should be read by anyone with an interest in the languages of northwestern North America, and is also well worth perusal by linguists specializing in other areas..... the facts of the Lillooet generally emerge in a straightforward and perspicuous fashion.... this attractive and well-produced volume is a valuable addition to the literature on Salish languages. - Anthropological Linguistics

About the Author

Jan van Eijk is an assistant professor in the Department of Indian Languages and Literature at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Regina.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 279 pages
• Publisher: Univ of British Columbia Pr (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0774806257
• ISBN-13: 978-0774806251
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,596,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Detailed reference grammar aimed at linguists, January 11, 2005

By 

D. J. Eddyshaw (Swansea United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lillooet Language: The Lillooet Language Phonology,Morphology,Syntax (First Nations Languages) (Hardcover)

Despite being relatively brief this book contains a great deal of information; it's dense, and aimed at a (linguistically) fairly sophisticated audience. Van Eijk has also I believe produced paedagogically orientated materials.

The book does a fine job of lucid exposition; it's least comprehensive (avowedly) on syntax, though even here there's a lot packed into a few pages (and a lot of syntactic stuff dealt with in the morphology section).

The book is in fact (as of Jan 2005 anyhow) in print; it can be got from the publishers, even if not from Amazon