How linguistics can help the historian

Linguistics can be a powerful tool for interpreting historical documents, just as archaeology helps us interpret historical artefacts. This informal exposition looks at specific examples from early medieval Ireland, Britain, and the Continent and is essential reading for any student of history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 04 May 2021
Publisher: Royal Irish Academy

Linguistics is often perceived as a highly technical and complex field that requires extensive knowledge and expertise. However, this perception is misleading. Linguistics is not only accessible to everyone but also fascinating and engaging. In fact, linguistics has the potential to extract valuable insights from historical documents in a manner that is equally striking and revealing as the way archaeology helps us interpret historical artifacts.

The process of extracting information from historical documents involves delving beyond the explicit content and examining the way it is expressed. This exploration looks at specific examples from early medieval Ireland, Britain, and the Continent to illustrate the techniques used in linguistic analysis.

This deliberately informal exposition originated in a 2012 address given at NUI Galway in response to an invitation from the students of that university's Cumann Staire. A version was delivered the following year in Dublin to a workshop of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.

This exposition is essential reading for anyone interested in history, as it provides a fresh perspective on the study of language and culture. By leveraging the power of linguistics, we can gain a deeper understanding of our past and uncover new insights that can shape our future.

Weight: 62g
Dimension: 110 x 180 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781911479697