The Uralic Languages provides a unique, up-to-date survey of the nineteen Uralic languages from Hungarian and Finnish to Ostyak and Lapp. Spoken by more than 25 million native speakers, the Uralic languages have important cultural and social significance in Northern and Eastern Europe as well as in immigrant communities throughout Europe and North America. This outstanding project provides a chapter-length description of each language focusing on the structure of the languages as they are today, but also giving an analysis of language history and development. Written by internationally-recognized experts and based on the most recent scholarship available, the Uralic Languages is fully comprehensive. The volume includes detailed research on the major languages, including the official languages of Estonia, Finland and Hungary and rarely-covered minor languages such as Lapp, Mordvinian (Volga River valley) and Zyrian (Northern and Eastern European Russian). Each chapter is written in a format designed for comparative study. Information on each language includes: * an introductory description of the social context and the development of the language * extensive discussions of phonology, morphology, syntax, lexis and the main dialects In addition, there are chapters on the history of the field and area typology. Special Features * this work is the only fully comprehensive book on the Uralic languages available in English * the authors of each chapter are leading linguistic authorities on the languages discussed, as well as native speakers in many cases * examines in length and in depth the history and structure of all the languages in the Uralic family * includes an exhaustive index, bibliographies of the major references in each language, and maps of language distribution and development This book will be used by undergraduate and postgraduate students studying one or more of these languages, experts needing concise but thorough information on related languages as well as anyone working in comparative linguistics.