Linguistics - An Introduction - Softcover

McGregor, William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847063675 ISBN 13: 9781847063670

Verlag: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd., 2009

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Linguistics: an introduction editado por Continuum International P

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At last -- an introduction to the study of language that is neither theory-neutral nor generative, but one that is cognitivist and functional. It highlights the links of linguistics with psychology, neuroscience and biological evolutionary theory. In addition it is engaging, pedagogically well thought through, lucidly written and nicely presented. The perfect book for beginners!--Eva Eppler, Senior Lecturer in English Language & Linguistics, Roehampton University, UK At last an introduction to the study of language that is neither theory-neutral nor generative, but one that is cognitivist and functional. It highlights the links of linguistics with psychology, neuroscience and biological evolutionary theory. In addition it is engaging, pedagogically well thought through, lucidly written and nicely presented. The perfect book for beginners!--Eva Eppler, Senior Lecturer in English Language & Linguistics, Roehampton University, UK "McGregor's Introduction is a very well-balanced and informative introductory text. It is designed to give the student a sense of being able to think clearly about language, and to engage in the study of language in any of its diverse manifestations always in a perspective in which (as McGregor says) "meaning and use play absolutely central roles." The book will make it clear to students what it means to say that linguistics is the science of language." - M. A. K. Halliday, Emeritus Professor of Linguistics, University of Sydney, Australia. At last - an introduction to the study of language that is neither theory-neutral nor generative, but one that is cognitivist and functional. It highlights the links of linguistics with psychology, neuroscience and biological evolutionary theory. In addition it is engaging, pedagogically well thought through, lucidly written and nicely presented. The perfect book for beginners!--Sanford Lakoff William McGregor's new textbook is an excellent introduction to linguistics. It is clear, precise and readable, comprehensible and comprehensive, and it is eminently usable as both a core course text as well as a reference work. It also does not neglect the extensions and applications of linguistics in the real world. This book is likely to become the benchmark for linguistics texts in the next few years. --Sanford Lakoff In this introductory text McGregor offers a clear and well-constructed account of core concepts, leading students to explore linguistic diversity with an impressive range of languages and examples, particularly in the later chapters of the book. A reflective student or independent reader with a fascination for the subject will find a wealth of material relevant to basic puzzles about language and more than ample guidance for further study.--Sanford Lakoff William McGregor has produced a textbook which unfolds the study of language in a refreshing and lively way, positions the subject in relation to adjacent disciplines, and gives the beginning student a general view of the complexity and diversity of the world's languages.--Sanford Lakoff This book is a superb introduction to linguistics, and cannot fail to entice students to read it. It covers not only the traditional core areas in linguistics of phonetics, phonology, morphology, the lexicon, syntax and semantics, but also highly topical and contemporary areas such as the evolution of language in its biological context, language change, the language and society interface, and how language is acquired, not to be overlooked in any solid modern textbook. Each chapter is very clearly set out, providing its structure and the objectives to be met at the very start while a concise summary of all the essential facts covered is given at the end, combined with a set of challenging questions and ideas for further reading. An extremely useful glossary of linguistic terms is also to be found at the end of the book. In fact, it is much more astutely organised than other comparable introductory textbooks on the market. Linguistics: an introduction presents a refreshing new approach to explaining the basic facts about human languages and will undoubtedly prove to be indispensable at university level. Another bonus is that it is completely technically up-to-date with its inclusion of website information and further sets of questions and thus can felicitously cater for today's enterprising student-internaut. In short, the book is a gem written by a consummate master of the art and discipline of linguistics, a scholar who has already notched up several decades of experience in empirical research in the field as well as in teaching at university level.--Sanford Lakoff Linguistics: An Introduction provides a fresh yet traditional functionalist perspective on some of the core issues in modern linguistics, occupying an intermediate position between existing introductory workbooks and textbooks. Students will appreciate the no-nonsense focus on basic facts and concepts, as well as the frequent interjection of practical suggestions for how to study, learn, and conduct linguistic analysis. Professors will enjoy the steady infusion of examples from Australian and other lesser-known languages of the world, as well as the stimulating new questions at the end of each chapter. Linguistics is a textbook suitable for students all around the world and Americans will find much in this book to get their linguistic juices flowing.--Sanford Lakoff ... this book has set a new benchmark for linguistics textbooks. I will definitely be adding Linguistics: An Introduction to the core texts on relevant syllabi in my own teaching and I would be delighted to recommend the book for the BAAL book prize.--Sanford Lakoff McGregor's prose is clear... his explanations are articulate enough to convey the essential content, while devoid of tortuous, off-putting syntax... the thirteen chapters contain plenty of linguistic examples and clever illustrations [and] the text is pedagogically friendly. McGregor has delivered a concise compendium, uncluttered and accessible, pedagogically well thought through, and innovative in its theoretical approach to presenting the material. Instructors, students, and language buffs alike are encouraged to give it a gander.--Sanford Lakoff McGregor's "Introduction" is a very well-balanced and informative introductory text. It is designed to give the student a sense of being able to think clearly about language, and to engage in the study of language in any of its diverse manifestations always in a perspective in which (as McGregory says) "meaning and use play absolutely central roles." The book will make it clear to students what it means to say that linguistics is the science of language.--Sanford Lakoff "Instructors of introductory linguistics assume their textbook will be comprehensive. They expect it will cover basic concepts and introduce fundamental strategies of linguistic analysis. Many prefer that an introductory linguistics text minimize theoretical constructs and limit representational formulas. So it is with "Linguistics: An Introduction" by William B. McGregor. It covers the essential components of linguistic study: historical/comparative, morphology, phonetics/ phonology, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, syntax and semantics. It also has chapters on the world's languages and the kinds of structural features found in different areas of the world. It emphasizes the systematic nature of language, its paradigmatic and syntagmatic aspects. Throughout these chapters, students will appreciate the attention to meaning and use of language. Instructors will appreciate the way McGregor has highlighted significant parameters of linguistic analysis such as the animacy hierarchy in syntax, the meronymic hierarchy of body parts in the lexicon and geographic directions in the expression of spatial relations. Instructors of introductory linguistics classes will find McGregor's book pedagogically stimulating and flexible. It offers a variety of avenues for getting students involved with the concepts of each chapter. As the introduction makes clear, each chapter is anchored to a problem solving pedagogy in order to engage students in the process of understanding. There is a deliberate attempt to bring real world scenarios and commonly held assumptions to bear on the study of linguistics so that one can address perspective questions of the sort, "Why should anyone be interested in the ideas of this chapter?." Instructors will find value in this book and its organization. Since the chapters are not inextricably linked one after the other, they can be arranged in a class syllabus in various orders: word formation and morphology, with their emphasis on word level

Reseña del editor

"Linguistics" is a fresh and contemporary introductory textbook for all students of linguistics and language studies. Firmly based around taught courses and catering to student needs, it addresses all the topics that a student will need in their initial and subsequent study of language.With key terms, further reading, questions at the end of each chapter, exercises and key paragraphs in stand-out boxes, this is a firmly pedagogic text that takes difficult concepts and explains them in an easy to understand way. Examples are taken from a range of languages across the world. Global in its scope and comprehensive in its coverage, this is the textbook of choice for linguistics students.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1847063675
• ISBN 13: 9781847063670
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Sprache: Englisch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 384