Greek: A History of the Language and Its Speakers (Longman Linguistics Library)

Tracing the development of the Greek language from the Mycenean period of the second millenium BC to the late 1990s, this volume combines both external and internal history into a single narrative. It explores, in English, the evolution of the Greek language as a whole, in all its regional and social heterogeneity, and in both its spoken and written forms. The main study is supported throughout by detailed summaries of key developments in checklist form and an examination of selected texts to highlight major points. Maps are also used to illustrate more clearly the distribution of the ancient dialects and the geographical spread of the language in the early Middle Ages. A bibliography for further reading and study is also provided.