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Words of the world: The global language system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2004

Michael A. Morris
Michael A. Morris
Affiliation:
Political Science (and Languages), Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-1354, [email protected]
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Extract

Abram De Swaan, Words of the world: The global language system. Cambridge: Polity Press and Blackwell, 2001. Pp. xi, 253. Hb. $33.95.

There is a global language system that is a neglected part of the overall international system, according to Abram de Swaan, chairman of the Amsterdam School of Social Science Research at the University of Amsterdam. This book analyzes the nature of that global system in the first three chapters, followed by five chapters of case studies and ending with a chapter of “Conclusions and considerations.” The concept of a global language system has been articulated by the author in some previous articles, but the treatment here is much more systematic and complete, and as a result more impressive. In a word, this book is important and deserves very careful attention.

Type
BOOK REVIEW
Information
Language in Society , Volume 33 , Issue 4 , October 2004 , pp. 620 - 624
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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