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  • Published: 31 October 2023
  • ISBN: 9780262549707
  • Imprint: MIT Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $115.00
Categories:

Remarks on the Phonological Evolution of Russian in Comparison with the Other Slavic Languages



This is the first English translation of a groundbreaking 1929 work in historical phonology by the renowned linguist Roman Jakobson, considered the founder of modern structural linguistics. A revolutionary treatment of Russian and Slavic linguistics, the book introduced a new type of historical linguistics that focused on the systematic reasons behind phonological change. Rather than treating such changes as haphazard, Jakobson here presents a “teleological,” purposeful approach to language evolution. He concludes by placing his book in the context of the exciting structural developments of the era, including Einstein's theories, Cezanne's art, and Lev Berg's nomogenesis.

The original Russian version of the book was lost during the 1939 German invasion of Brno, Czechoslovakia, and the only edition available until now has been the French translation by Louis Brun. Thus this first English translation offers many linguists their first opportunity to read a major early work of Jakobson. Ronald Feldstein, a leading Slavicist and phonologist in his own right, has not only translated the text from French to English, he has also worked to reconstruct something as close to the missing original as possible. Feldstein's end-of-chapter annotations provide explanatory context for particularly difficult passages.

The first English translation of a classic and groundbreaking work in historical phonology.

This is the first English translation of a groundbreaking 1929 work in historical phonology by the renowned linguist Roman Jakobson, considered the founder of modern structural linguistics. A revolutionary treatment of Russian and Slavic linguistics, the book introduced a new type of historical linguistics that focused on the systematic reasons behind phonological change. Rather than treating such changes as haphazard, Jakobson here presents a “teleological,” purposeful approach to language evolution. He concludes by placing his book in the context of the exciting structural developments of the era, including Einstein's theories, Cezanne's art, and Lev Berg's nomogenesis.

The original Russian version of the book was lost during the 1939 German invasion of Brno, Czechoslovakia, and the only edition available until now has been the French translation by Louis Brun. Thus this first English translation offers many linguists their first opportunity to read a major early work of Jakobson. Ronald Feldstein, a leading Slavicist and phonologist in his own right, has not only translated the text from French to English, he has also worked to reconstruct something as close to the missing original as possible. Feldstein's end-of-chapter annotations provide explanatory context for particularly difficult passages.

  • Published: 31 October 2023
  • ISBN: 9780262549707
  • Imprint: MIT Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 240
  • RRP: $115.00
Categories:

Praise for Remarks on the Phonological Evolution of Russian in Comparison with the Other Slavic Languages

"Professor Feldstein has done a brilliant job of not only rendering Jakobson's seminal work into English but also providing expert commentary that brings Jakobson's original text to life. This work should be read by any linguist who is interested in phonology in general, historical comparative phonology, and principles of diachronic analysis."
--Edna Andrews, Chair, Linguistics Program, Duke University; author of Markedness Theory and Neuroscience and Multilingualism