The Study of Language

Details: The Study of Language introduces readers to the wide subject of linguistics. It provides a 360-degree coverage of the different subfields of linguistics, including words, structures, sounds, meanings and more. Readers can benefit by the book's attempt to make them understand the fundamental building blocks of a language. It includes chapters like second language acquisition/learning, phrases and sentences: grammar, syntax, the sounds of language, the development of writing, animals and human language, semantics, first language acquisition, language varieties, language: society and culture, language and machines, pragmatics, sign language, words and word-formation processes, language history and change, the properties of language, the origins of language, morphology, the sound patterns of language, language and the brain, discourse analysis and appendix: suggested answers to study questions and more.
The book covers concepts like how do children learn language, why women and men speak differently, how conversation works, how language varies between social groups and regions and more. Layering new accounts of language origins, the Study of Language explains the key properties of kinship terms, text messaging, language and over twenty new word etymologies. There is a section explaining technical terms as well. Contemporary issues like language and culture, sign language, African American English and slangs have also been discussed in the book.
The revised and updated version includes an additional chapter on pragmatics. Semantics have been thoroughly expanded in this edition. The book has more quotes from commentators like Gary Larson and Groucho Marx, illustrations and examples. There are 50 new tasks for students. The new edition maintains the lucid, clear, simple and lively style of the first edition. The book is useful for students and teachers teaching a language.
Cambridge University Press published the 2nd edition of the Study of Language in 1996. It is available in paperback format.