Joe Salmons is the Lester W.J. “Smoky” Seifert Professor in Language Sciences at the University of Wisconsin – Madison

• The backgroundPreface: What we’re doing here and why 1. Introduction: What is sound change and how can we understand it? 2. The history of the field and why you need to understand it Starting points3. Segmental sound change 4. Sound change beyond the segment 5. Evidence for sound change Where sound changes6. The learner 7. Society Sound change in grammar8. Phonetics and sound change 9. Phonology and sound change 10. Sound change beyond the sound system The bigger picture11. Conclusion: Toward a synthesis References Index of languages and families Index of subjects

This book sets the standard for textbooks in this area. There is no other volume which provides a full introduction to ‘sound change studies’ in the way that this book does, linking the broad range of topics which all need to contribute if we are to properly understand how phonology can change.