Linguistics: An Introduction - Hardcover

"This introduction, by some of the most distinguished linguists today, should rapidly become the market leader. Instead of offering the usual catalogue of unconnected topics, the authors of this introduction cover each of the major areas of language--sounds, words and sentences--from several viewpoints at once, which gives a unified account of the field with unparalleled clarity and elegance. Each section is complemented by exercises which are at once challenging, illuminating and entertaining." Neil Smith, University College London

"A competent and well-focused introduction. Pays much attention to grammar, sounds, and the lexicon, but is also very informative and up-to-date about acquisition, disorders, and language as a social institution. Recommended for both classroom use and for a general readership." Jan G. Kooij, Leiden University

This book is a self-contained introduction to language and linguistics, suitable for use as a textbook and for self-study. Written by a team of distinguished linguists, it offers a unified approach to language from several perspectives. A language is a complex structure represented in the minds of its speakers, and this book provides the tools necessary for understanding this structure. It explains basic concepts and recent theoretical ideas in the major areas of linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics), as well as the applications of these to the study of child language acquisition, psycholinguistics, language disorders, and sociolinguistics. The book is divided into three sections: sounds, words, and sentences. In each of these sections, the foundational concepts are introduced along with their applications in the above fields, giving this book a clear and unique structure. Each section is accompanied by extensive exercises and guidance on further reading.