The topic of the present volume is theory and empiricism in Slavonic diachronic linguistics. The authors of the papers deal with theoretical issues of diachronic linguistics illustrated primarily by the Slavonic language data or with empirical questions of Slavonic diachronic linguistics leading to general theoretical conclusions.

First versions of most of these texts were presented at the international conference Etymological Symposium

Brno 2011: Theory and empiricism in Slavonic diachronic linguistics, organized by the Etymological Department of the Institute of the Czech Language of the AS CR, and held in Brno, Czech Republic, on 6–8 September 2011.