Book

New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin

by Andrew L. Sihler

📖 Overview

New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin presents a systematic analysis of Proto-Indo-European linguistics and the historical development of ancient Greek and Latin. The work examines phonology, morphology, and syntax through detailed technical comparisons between these classical languages. The text follows established comparative methods while incorporating newer linguistic research and archaeological findings. Each chapter builds from foundational concepts to complex linguistic phenomena, supported by extensive examples from ancient texts. The grammar covers topics including sound changes, nominal and verbal systems, word formation, and syntactic structures. Tables, charts and linguistic reconstructions appear throughout to illustrate the relationships between Greek and Latin forms. This comprehensive reference work contributes to the broader understanding of Indo-European language development and historical linguistics. The comparative approach reveals patterns of language change and highlights the shared origins of Greek and Latin grammatical structures.

👀 Reviews

Students and scholars describe this as a dense, technical reference work that requires existing knowledge of Greek and Latin. Multiple readers note it serves better as a reference text than a learning tool. Readers appreciate: - Comprehensive coverage of historical linguistics - Clear explanations of sound changes - Detailed treatment of morphology - Extensive bibliographic references Common criticisms: - Dense writing style makes it hard to follow - Assumes significant prior knowledge - Not suitable for beginners - Some readers found errors in tables/examples - High price point ($85-125) One PhD student called it "more like an encyclopedia than a textbook," while another reader noted it was "unsuited for self-study." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11 ratings) Google Books: 4/5 (5 ratings) Most reviewers are graduate students or professors in classics/linguistics. Few reviews exist from casual readers.

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Introduction to Indo-European Linguistics by Oswald Szemerényi The work traces morphological and phonological developments from Proto-Indo-European through its major daughter languages.

From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic by Don Ringe This volume examines the systematic changes in phonology and morphology from PIE to Germanic with reference to Greek and Latin cognates.

New Historical Grammar of the Ancient Greek Language by Chrys C. Caragounis The text presents Greek language development through epigraphic evidence and comparative reconstruction methods.

Latin: A Linguistic Introduction by Hans H. Ørberg and Renato Oniga This work analyzes Latin's historical development through structural linguistics and comparison with related Indo-European languages.

🤔 Interesting facts

📚 New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin (1995) 🔸 The book represents one of the first major updates to comparative Greek and Latin grammar since the 1920s, incorporating nearly 70 years of linguistic research and discoveries. 🔸 Author Andrew Sihler studied under the renowned historical linguist Warren Cowgill at Yale University, carrying forward a prestigious academic lineage in Indo-European linguistics. 🔸 The work includes detailed explanations of Mycenaean Greek, the earliest recorded form of Greek from around 1600-1100 BCE, which wasn't deciphered until 1952. 🔸 The grammar addresses several controversial theories about Proto-Indo-European laryngeals (theoretical consonants) and their effects on Greek and Latin phonology. 🔸 Despite being published in 1995, it remains one of the standard reference works for advanced study of classical languages and historical linguistics, used in graduate programs worldwide.