An Introduction to English Language: Word, Sound and Sentence - Softcover

Kuiper, Koenraad; Allan, W. Scott

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0333984641 ISBN 13: 9780333984642

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003

Synopsis

How does the English language work? If you are interested in discovering the answer to this question, then An Introduction to English Language is the ideal place to start. Written in a clear, lively, and easy-to-follow style, this introductory textbook is based around three core topics of linguistic study: WORD: English words, how they fit into sentences, their internal structure, their meaning and how they make up vocabularies for various purposes. SOUND: the sound systems of English, its phonetics and phonology, and English intonation and stress patterns. SENTENCE: English sentence structure and introductory English grammar. Now thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of this essential guide features: * more examples of regional and social variation from English-speaking communities worldwide, including Africa, America, Australia, the Caribbean, Asia, New Zealand and the UK * extensive chapter glossaries for easy reference and revision * worked examples and further exercises which are now graded so that they increase in difficulty as the student's understanding grows An Introduction to English Language is carefully designed as a course-book for either group or individual study, and it remains the essential text for students and teachers of English language and introductory linguistics.

About this title

Review

Review of the first edition: 'A book I would recommend to Departments of English world-wide. Kuiper and Allan's book...deals with the bare bones of English structure - its sound system, its lexicon and its syntactic structure. The book...focuses practically and squarely on the language at hand, and it eschews the obfuscation of current linguistic squabbles and the arcanity of some of those representations. That said, however, it does no disservice whatsoever to the sophistication and findings of modern linguistic science.' - Professor Dennis Preston, Michigan State University

Synopsis

"An Introduction to English Language" is designed as a coursebook for students and teachers of English and introductory linguistics, which presupposes no prior knowledge of the words, sounds, sentences and meanings of English. Believing that the best way to learn is through listening and doing, the authors have packed this book full of worked examples and exercises drawn from a range of discourses to consolidate the student's knowledge, competence and enjoyment of the subject. The second edition has been substantially revised to incorporate examples of regional and social variation from English-speaking communities worldwide, including Africa, America, Australia, the Caribbean, Asia, New Zealand and the UK. The authors have also graded the exercises so that they gradually increase in difficulty.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0333984641
• ISBN 13: 9780333984642
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 388