Download or read book The Salish Language Family written by Paul D. Kroeber and published by U of Nebraska Press. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 968 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this pioneering study Paul D. Kroeber examines the history of an array of important syntactic constructions in the Salish language family. This group of some twenty-three languages, centrally located in the Northwest Coast and Plateau Regions, is noted for its intriguing differences from European languages, including the possible irrelevance of a noun/verb distinction to grammatical structure and the existence of distinctive systems of articles, which also often function as marks of subordination. ø Kroeber draws on and analyzes data from a wide range of textual and other sources. Centering his detailed investigation on patterns of subordination and focusing, he situates these against the broader background of Salish syntax, examines their interrelationships, and reconstructs their historical development. The result is a study that significantly enhances understanding of the structure and history of Salish. As important, Kroeber?s critical command of sources and well-considered historical proposals are exemplary, setting a methodological standard for Americanist scholarship.