Table of Contents

• : Preface
• 01: What is linguistics?
• 02: What is language?
• 03: The study of language
• 04: Deciding where to begin
• 05: Sound patterns
• 06: Words and pieces of words
• 07: Sentence patterns
• 08: Meaning
• 09: Using language
• 10: Language and society
• 11: Language and mind
• 12: Language and style
• 13: Language change
• 14: Comparing languages
• 15: Attitudes towards change
• 16: Seeking a suitable framework
• 17: Trouble with transformations
• 18: Back to basics
• : Epilogue
• : Further reading
• : List of symbols and abbreviations
• : Phonetics: the study of speech sounds
• : Index

Promotional Information

A comprehensive text on linguistics which includes sections on speech disorders, politeness, the language of advertising and phonetics.

Promotional Information

A comprehensive text on linguistics which includes sections on speech disorders, politeness, the language of advertising and phonetics.

About the Author

Jean Aitchison is Rupert Murdoch Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Oxford. She gave the BBC Reith Lectures in 1996.