This book provides a non-technical introduction to the study of language by focusing on questions such as: Where does language come from? Why don't we all talk the same? Who needs grammar? Suitable for students with no experience of linguistics, this lively introduction to language approaches will encourage students to think.
'Immensely informative and enjoyable.' - Ian Hancock, Professor of Linguistics, University of Texas at Austin, USA
'An excellent resource.' - April McMahon, Professor of English Language, University of Edinburgh, UK
Introduction
PART 1: THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE
Where Does Language Come From?
Why Don't We All Talk the Same?
Things Ain't What They Used to Be
Linguistic Relations
Bee Talk and Monkey Chatter
PART 2: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES
How Do You Spell Accommodation?
How Many Words Do The Eskimos Use?
Going On and On: The Never-ending Story
Primitive Languages?
Who Needs Grammar?
Mobile Messages
PART 3: LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY
How Do We Lose Languages and Does It Matter?
What Shall I Call You?
Do Women and Men Speak Differently?
Sexist Language and Linguist Sexism
What Language Do You Use to Your Grandmother?
Why Can't People in Birmingham Talk Right?
PART 4: LANGUAGE, BRAIN AND MIND
Why My Feets Hurted?
Does Bilingualism Rot the Brain?
Building Another Tongue
You've Tasted the Whole Worm
Is Language a Strait Jacket?
When Language Breaks Down
PART 5: CONCLUSION
Who Cares About Language?
Index
LAURIE BAUER is Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He is on the editorial board of Linguistics and the Yearbook of Morphology. His publications include Language Myths (with Peter Trudgill, Penguin, 1998), Morphological Productivity (Cambridge, 2001), Introducing Linguistic Morphology 2e (EUP 2003) and An Introduction to International Varieties of English (EUP 2002).
JANET HOLMES is Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She is on the editorial boards of eleven learned journals, including Language in Society and Discourse and Society. Her publications include Introduction to Sociolinguistics 2e (Longman, 2001) and Women, Men and Politeness (Longman, 1995).
PAUL WARREN is Associate Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He teaches in a wide range of areas of Linguistics, and has research interests in psycholinguistics and experimental phonetics.
Description
This book provides a non-technical introduction to the study of language by focusing on questions such as: Where does language come from? Why don't we all talk the same? Who needs grammar? Suitable for students with no experience of linguistics, this lively introduction to language approaches will encourage students to think.
Reviews
'Immensely informative and enjoyable.' - Ian Hancock, Professor of Linguistics, University of Texas at Austin, USA
'An excellent resource.' - April McMahon, Professor of English Language, University of Edinburgh, UK
Contents
Introduction
PART 1: THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE
Where Does Language Come From?
Why Don't We All Talk the Same?
Things Ain't What They Used to Be
Linguistic Relations
Bee Talk and Monkey Chatter
PART 2: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES
How Do You Spell Accommodation?
How Many Words Do The Eskimos Use?
Going On and On: The Never-ending Story
Primitive Languages?
Who Needs Grammar?
Mobile Messages
PART 3: LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY
How Do We Lose Languages and Does It Matter?
What Shall I Call You?
Do Women and Men Speak Differently?
Sexist Language and Linguist Sexism
What Language Do You Use to Your Grandmother?
Why Can't People in Birmingham Talk Right?
PART 4: LANGUAGE, BRAIN AND MIND
Why My Feets Hurted?
Does Bilingualism Rot the Brain?
Building Another Tongue
You've Tasted the Whole Worm
Is Language a Strait Jacket?
When Language Breaks Down
PART 5: CONCLUSION
Who Cares About Language?
Index
Authors
LAURIE BAUER is Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He is on the editorial board of Linguistics and the Yearbook of Morphology. His publications include Language Myths (with Peter Trudgill, Penguin, 1998), Morphological Productivity (Cambridge, 2001), Introducing Linguistic Morphology 2e (EUP 2003) and An Introduction to International Varieties of English (EUP 2002).
JANET HOLMES is Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She is on the editorial boards of eleven learned journals, including Language in Society and Discourse and Society. Her publications include Introduction to Sociolinguistics 2e (Longman, 2001) and Women, Men and Politeness (Longman, 1995).
PAUL WARREN is Associate Professor in the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He teaches in a wide range of areas of Linguistics, and has research interests in psycholinguistics and experimental phonetics.
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