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Title: The Atlas of Languages: The Origin and Development of Languages Throughout the World by Stephen Matthews, Maria Polinsky, Bernard Comrie ISBN: 0-8160-3388-9 Publisher: Facts on File Pub. Date: 01 December, 1996 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $35.00

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Average Customer Rating: 3.18 (11 reviews)

Rating: 3
Summary: For gereral audiences, not for specialists
Comment: This is a "coffee-table" book, not a scholarly treatise, and it should be reviewed in that context. It does not include a tremendous amount of information about any one language or group of languages, but it does have entertaining snippets and sidebars that may whet the reader's appetite and encourage further reading of more advanced material. I agree that most of the illustrations are of little value, but the outline maps could be useful to readers who know little about the topic. Those who are looking for well-referenced, detailed accounts of the comparative features of many important languages should consult "The World's Chief Languages", edited by one of the authors of this book (Comrie). On the other hand, if you want to impress someone by using the word "ergative" in a sentence, this book will help you understand what that means, but you will need to look elsewhere to get more details. I understand that a revised edition is due out in April 2003, and hopefully some improvements have been made.

Rating: 3
Summary: atlas of mistakes
Comment: amazing amount of silly mistakes: improper translations of simple and unambigous words, sakhalin is called a peninsula just a few pages after a map which clearly shows that it is an island, etc.
frustrating

Rating: 2
Summary: An Elementary School Reference Book
Comment: I was really looking forward to seeing this book (my sister ordered it for me for Christmas as I have no credit card), but I was very disappointed in the cheesy kiddie graphics of the maps and in the irrelevant space-filling color photos, most of which have little to do with any serious consideration of the topic at hand. The text is also filled with grammatical errors--very disappointing considering its theme. I guess I will have to keep on referring to my old black and white photocopied maps and articles from the Brittanica which, though sometimes dated, are the best resource I have out here in rural Korea. I am very disappointed in Mister Comrie who I know is a very reputable scholar of language universals and linguistic typology.