text_combined: 8 826 disc evolution analytic synthetic add little value judgment part martin haspelmath clear explication current views evolution typology point otto jespersen believed evolution synthetic analytic happened old modern english overall improvement assumption totally isolating languages like chinese represented ideal goal languages nt copy easily available believe view found philosophy grammar heard suggested reason j believed believed english close ideal language second martin claim view fairly clear consensus among historical linguists directionality discusses current introductory texts certainly include discussion view nice discussion found example terry crowley _ introduction historical linguistics _ oxford 1992 similar discussions found current texts geoff geoffrey nathan department linguistics southern illinois university carbondale carbondale il 62901 usa phone 618 4533421 office fax 618 4536527 618 5490106 home