Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction

• Provides a broad overview of the field, and guides the reader through specific examples
• Conveys complex linguistic topics in a clear, unbiased, down-to-earth way
• Takes an original approach to the presentation of linguistics, starting with the oldest 'arts' branch of the subject and moving chronologically through to the newer 'science' aspects of research
• Uses short thematic chapters to break the subject down into its various fields, such as comparing languages, language and evolution, language in time and space, etc.
• Written by one of the most distinguished linguists in the world today

Readership: Students of linguistics, sixth-formers, those thinking of studying linguistics, and undergraduates taking linguistics as a module on foreign language or literature courses. General readers interested in the history of linguistics, past and present.

P. H. Matthews, Professor of Linguistics, Cambridge University; Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge

1: The Study of Language
2: 'Homo loquens'
3: Language in Time and Space
4: Language Families
5: In Praise of Diversity
6: What is a Language?
7: How Much is Systematic?
8: Sounds
9: Language and the Brain
Further Reading
Index