University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Recognition

This book is not only the first to seriously address the role of bilinguals in initiating language change, in my opinion, it remains one of the best. In particular, Weinreich's general ideas about linguistic convergence, or the effect of bilingualism on linguistic structure, form the basis of much of my current research. As a testimony to his skill, his book is so clearly articulated that it can be read by anyone who has had only a basic introduction to linguistics. Perhaps the most important contribution of this book is that Weinreich defuses the view that the effect of bilingualism is in any way detrimental to the individual or to society as a whole.