Understanding Language

"An introduction to linguistics assuming no prior knowledge, this book offers comprehensive coverage of the key areas of linguistics in an easy to understand, jargon-free way. Fully updated, with two new chapters, expanded coverage throughout, a wealth of illustrative examples, and accompanied by a companion website, this is an essential introduction for any student studying linguistics for the first time"--

Elizabeth Winkler is Faculty Emeritus at Western Kentucky University, USA.

List of Figures Preface Acknowledgements Part I: Defining and Acquiring Language 1. What Every Native Speaker Secretly Understands 2. Human Language versus Animal Communication Systems 3. First Language Acquisition 4. Second Language Acquisition 5. Language, the Brain and the Mind Part II: Structures of Language 6. Phonetics 7. Phonology 8. Morphology: The Grammar of Words 9. Syntax: Grammatical Structures Part III: Language in Use 10. Semantics: Language and Meaning 11. Pragmatics: Language in Use 12. Historical Linguistics: The Development of English 13. Language Variation and Change 14. World Englishes Bibliography Index