Inside Language - Softcover

Cook, Vivian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340607610 ISBN 13: 9780340607619

Publisher: Arnold/Hodder Headline, 1997

Synopsis

What makes human language unique? How did language begin? This book is a wide-ranging and stimulating introduction to language which students and general readers alike will read for enjoyment as well as instruction. It explores the most intriguing questions about the nature of human language, drawing on basic insights that have been developed by linguistics this century.



The author introduces the reader to the study of language through chapters on grammar, sounds, writing and words, emphasising these as systems within the overall system of language. Later chapters look at the stages by which children learn language and the theories that explain their rapid progress, at what can go wrong with speech in childhood and maturity, and at how speakers of a language show their different origins and class. The text is liberally illustrated with fascinating examples, mostly from everyday life, from sources as wide ranging as political speeches and T-shirt slogans and examples are taken from an extremely wide range of languages, in particular English, French, Japanese, German, Spanish and Korean.

About this title

Review

..".a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition ."..a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition .,."a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition ., ."a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition , .."a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition .,."a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition ..."a valuable resource for teachers and students."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition

Synopsis

This text provides a wide-ranging introduction to language which should be of interest to students and general readers alike. It explores the most intriguing questions about the nature of human language, drawing on basic insights that have been developed by linguistics this century. The author introduces the reader to the study of language through chapters on grammar, sounds, writing and words, emphasizing these as systems within the overall system of language. Later chapters look at the stages through which children learn language and the theories that explain their rapid progress, at what can go wrong with speech in childhood and maturity, and at how speakers of a language show their different origins and class.

Edition details

• Publisher: Arnold/Hodder Headline
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0340607610
• ISBN 13: 9780340607619
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304