Clauson Gerard. Studies in Turkic and Mongolic linguistics

London & New York: Routledge Curzon is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, 2005. — xix; 171 p. ISBN: 0-203-98755-1 Master e-book ISBN; ISBN: 0-415-29772-9 (Print Edition)The present book, which is now made available once more after being for many years out of print, deserves its resuscitation not merely as an act of homage to the manes of one who was for sixty-two years a member of the Royal Asiatic Society having joined in 1912 as an Oxford undergraduate, was President of the Society for the triennium 1958–61 and was Special Gold Medallist at the Society’s sesquicentenary in 1973, but also because it embodies, in a modest and convenient compass, much of his research and his thinking on Turkish and Mongolian linguistic problems, and, especially on the contentious Altaic theory. Whatever the truth may be here—and if the truth or falsity of the theory is demonstrated at some future time, all authorities agree that it will only be after much detailed research on all the component languages of the groups—Clauson’s vigorously expressed views, based as they were on a remarkable knowledge of the lexica of the Altaic languages and outsanding personal achievement in the field of Turkish lexicography, will surely continue to command respect.