Essential Introductory Linguistics [Paperback]

This is a new kind of textbook for courses in introductory linguistics. It makes clear what is important or essential, and omits what is not. It is strictly selective, highly structured, focused, to-the-point and informative. It presents material in a way that mirrors the structure of a typical semester of teaching, and integrates many exercises into the text.List of Figures.

List of Tables.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

1. Signs and Sign Systems.

2. Phonetics.

3. Phones and Phonemes.

4. Morphemes.

5. The Lexicon and Morphological Rules.

6. Sentences and Syntax.

7. Phrase Structure Rules.

8. Child Language Learning.

9. Explanations of Child Language Learning.

10. Language and the Brain.

11. Adult Language Learning.

12. Animal Languages?.

13. Phonological Rules.

14. Phonological Features.

15. Six Ways to Get New Words.

16. Seven More Ways to Get New Words.

17. Sentence Meaning.

18. Sentence Form.

19. Pragmatics: Inferring Meaning in Context.

20. The Unity of Languages.

21. The Basic History of Writing.

22. The Ecology of Writing.

23. Three Characteristics of Language Change.

24. Eight Causes of Language Change.

25. Language Families.

26. Dialects and Other Sociolects.

27. Register.

28. The History of Linguistics.

References.

Index.

Grover Hudson's new textbook is an exciting discovery, unlike any other introductory text in linguistics I have seen, and I eal£p