Barry J. Blake, La Trobe University
"...an attractive, readable introduction to the English Language and a welcome addition to the increasing range of titles which will persuade people that language merits closer scrutiny in its own right." - Tim Connell, The Times Literary Supplement
"This is a textbook and a very good one...an easy, conversational style that makes the highly complex and intricate nature of language seem quite explicable." - Steven Carroll The Age (Melbourne)
"An informative and highly readable overview of basic linguistic ideas and debates. Barry Blake succeeds in making complex concepts accessible to beginning students without talking down to them. If I hadn't retired last year, I'd very likely use the book myself as a text in the undergraduate-level introduction to linguistics." - Frederick J. Newmeyer, University of Washington and University of British Columbia
"A stimulating introduction to linguistics and language study. All About Language is clearly written and contains a wealth of thought-provoking and interesting examples taken from English as well as from other languages, including signing. It has a nicely judged set of topics that cover an enormous range in a short space." - Keith Brown, University of Cambridge
1: Introduction Part One: Words 2: Word Classes 3: Forming New Words 4: Meaning of Words Part Two: Syntax and Discourse 5: The Simple Sentence 6: Compound and Complex Sentences 7: Using Language Part Three: Speech and Writing 8: Phonetics 9: Phonology 10: Writing Part Four: Variation and Change 11: Varieties 12: Language Change Part Five: The Brain 13: Language Acquisition 14: Language Processing: Brains and Computers 15: The Origin of Language Glossary of Terms References and Further Reading Index
