The Use of Databases in Cross-Linguistic Studies (Empirical Approaches to Language Typology [ealt], 41)

This book promotes the development of linguistic databases by describing a number of successful database projects, focusing especially on cross-linguistic and typological research. It has become increasingly clear that ready access to knowledge about cross-linguistic variation is of great value to many types of linguistic research. Such a systematic body of data is essential in order to gain a proper understanding of what is truly universal in language and what is determined by specific cultural settings. Moreover, it is increasingly needed as a tool to systematically evaluate contrasting theoretical claims. The book includes a chapter on general problems of using databases to handle language data and chapters on a number of individual projects. Note: This title was originally announced as including a CD-Rom with databases. The CD-Rom, however, was replaced by a list of URLs within the book. More information as well as links to the databases can also be found (http://www.degruyter.de/files/down/databases%20everaert%20et%20al%202009.pdf) here .

This book promotes the development of linguistic databases by describing a number of successful database projects, focusing especially on cross-linguistic and typological research. It has become increasingly clear that ready access to knowledge about cross-linguistic variation is of great value to many types of linguistic research. Such a systematic body of data is essential in order to gain a proper understanding of what is truly universal in language and what is determined by specific cultural settings. Moreover, it is increasingly needed as a tool to systematically evaluate contrasting theoretical claims. The book includes a chapter on general problems of using databases to handle language data and chapters on a number of individual projects.

Note: This title was originally announced as including a CD-Rom with databases. The CD-Rom, however, was replaced by a list of URLs within the book. More information as well as links to the databases can also be found here.

This book promotes the development of linguistic databases by describing a number of successful database projects, focusing especially on cross-linguistic and typological research. It has become increasingly clear that ready access to knowledge about cross-linguistic variation is of great value to many types of linguistic research. Such a systematic body of data is essential in order to gain a proper understanding of what is truly universal in language and what is determined by specific cultural settings. Moreover, it is increasingly needed as a tool to systematically evaluate contrasting theoretical claims. The book includes a chapter on general problems of using databases to handle language data and chapters on a number of individual projects. Note: This title was originally announced as including a CD-Rom with databases. The CD-Rom, however, was replaced by a list of URLs within the book. More information as well as links to the databases can also be found [here](http://www.degruyter.de/files/down/databases%20everaert%20et%20al%202009.pdf). Frontmatter Contents Introduction Designing linguistic databases: A primer for linguists A typological database of personal and demonstrative pronouns Databases designed for investigating specific phenomena How to integrate databases without starting a typology war: The Typological Database System A contribution to ‘two-dimensional’ language description: the Typological Database of Intensifiers and Reflexives StressTyp: A database for word accentual patterns in the world’s languages The typological database of the World Atlas of Language Structures Typology of reduplication: The Graz database The Romani Morpho-Syntax (RMS) database A database on personal pronouns in African languages Backmatter Biographical note: Martin Everaert, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands; Simon Musgrave, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Alexis Dimitriadis, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands