This concise guide presents a comprehensive account of linguistic history from its origins in Europe some 2500 years ago to the present day. Whilst focusing on European linguistics, the author also examines the linguistic science which developed independently in China and medieval Islam, especially in India. This was to have a profound effect on European and American linguistics from the end of the 18th century, proving the catalyst for growth into the 19th and 20th centuries. The revised fourth edition of this book has been rearranged to give greater prominence to the work of Wilhelm von Humboldt. The final chapter, covering the 20th century, has been completely revised in response to the distinct developments of descriptive and theoretical linguistics which have become apparent in the latter half of this century.
