Advances in Historical Orthography, c. 1500-1800

This book explores the development of European spelling systems in the early modern era, combining empirical approaches across Germanic, Romance, and Slavic languages. It is a valuable resource for specialists and those interested in historical European studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 324 pages
Publication date: 06 April 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The early modern period stands as a pivotal era in the history of language standardization across Europe, where orthographies assumed significant importance. This captivating book delves into the evolution of European spelling systems during this transformative time, offering a unique perspective by seamlessly merging multiple strands of historical research across a diverse array of Germanic, Romance, and Slavic languages, including Polish, German, French, Spanish, Lithuanian, Czech, Croatian, and English. While each chapter presents a case study focused on a specific language or script, the overarching narrative of the volume threads together a broad discussion rooted in models and methods applicable to numerous languages. This approach demonstrates how empirical methodologies can be applied across languages to enrich the field of historical orthography as a whole. As the inaugural volume to undertake a diachronic exploration of spelling system standardization from a cross-linguistic standpoint, this invaluable resource is of immense value to specialists and enthusiasts alike in the realm of historical European studies.

ISBN-13: 9781108458504