A history of the Japanese language /
Bjarke Frellesvig
- Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, c2011
- xxiv, 436 pages : illustrations ; 23cm
"First paperback edition (with corrections) 2011"--Title page verso
Part I. Old Japanese : 1. Early writing in Japan and Old Japanese sources 2. Phonology 3. Grammar 4. Loanwords 5. Eastern Old Japanese Part II. Early Middle Japanese : 6. Writing and sources 7. Phonology 8. Grammar 9. The sinification of Japanese Part III. Late Middle Japanese : 10. Sources 11. Phonology 12. Grammar Part IV. Modern Japanese : 13. Varieties of Modern Japanese 14. Phonology 15. Grammar 16. Eastern dialect features of the standard language 17. The westernization of Japanese: loanwords and other borrowings Appendix: Summary of the main regular phonemic changes between Old Japanese and conservative Modern Japanese
"Bjarke Frellesvig describes the development of the Japanese language from its recorded beginnings until the present day as reflected by the written sources and historical record. Beginning with a description of the oldest attested stage of the language, Old Japanese (approximately the eighth century AD), and then tracing the changes which occurred through the Early Middle Japanese (800-1200), Late Middle Japanese (1600 onwards) periods, a complete internal history of the language is examined and discussed. This account provides a comprehensive study of how the Japanese language has developed and adapted, providing a much-needed resource for scholars" -- back cover