Life Cycles of Language
an Ecological and Evolutionary Framework
Book •
In 'Life Cycles of Language', Nick J. Enfield develops an ecological and evolutionary framework to understand language change, use, and development across social contexts and generations.
The book synthesizes fieldwork, interactional linguistics, and evolutionary theory to examine how languages emerge, transform, and sometimes disappear, emphasizing social niches and communicative practices.
Enfield links micro-level interactional mechanisms to macro-level language dynamics, arguing that language systems are shaped by recurrent social activities and selection-like processes.
Drawing on examples from mainland Southeast Asian languages and broader comparative data, he illustrates how cultural and ecological factors influence linguistic trajectories.
The book aims to bridge theories from linguistics, anthropology, and evolutionary biology to offer a dynamic account of language life cycles.
The book synthesizes fieldwork, interactional linguistics, and evolutionary theory to examine how languages emerge, transform, and sometimes disappear, emphasizing social niches and communicative practices.
Enfield links micro-level interactional mechanisms to macro-level language dynamics, arguing that language systems are shaped by recurrent social activities and selection-like processes.
Drawing on examples from mainland Southeast Asian languages and broader comparative data, he illustrates how cultural and ecological factors influence linguistic trajectories.
The book aims to bridge theories from linguistics, anthropology, and evolutionary biology to offer a dynamic account of language life cycles.
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Nick Enfield
Podcast episode 56: Nick Enfield on linguistic signs and concepts
