Synopsis:
Understanding Language is the second edition of this introduction to linguistics aimed at all students who are new to the subject. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of the key areas of linguistics, yet explains these in an easy to understand, jargon-free way. Pictures, diagrams, tables and suggestions for further reading together with Grace Winkler's witty prose make this an accessible, student friendly guide which should enable students to navigate this often complicated area of study. Topics covered include:
language acquisition
speech sounds
the make-up of words
grammar
meaning
communication
the history of English
language variation and change
language and technology.
This is an essential introduction for any student taking linguistics at university, whether as their main subject of study, or in conjunction with related fields.
Review:
This book is a beautifully organized, clear and readable introduction to the field of linguistics. The writing is lively and interesting, while at the same time presenting complex and often technical ideas in a manner that's both accurate and accessible. Students brand new to the discipline will enjoy reading this book, and linguists who teach introductory courses will benefit from its clear and direct explanations.
Amy Fountain, Adjunct lecturer in the Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona, USA
In summary, this book is well-suited for students and everyone else who wants to learn about the basic structure of language. It is also very useful for instructors, who will be able to find many examples and ideas of how to introduce and explain complex topics. It is excellent for introductory purposes.
Adriana Hanulikova, Humboldt University, Germany, Linguist List, January 08
Writing in an accessible style, she covers the primary areas of linguistic study-phonetics, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics-and in this her book is comparable to such established classroom texts...This is one of those textbooks that may be as useful in the library as in the classroom; it would be a reasonable resource for those looking for a basic, concise overview. Summing Up: Recommended
P. J. Kurtz, CHOICE, February 2008
This excellent primer in linguistics covers a broad range of topics relating to language structure and language use as well as the basic constituents of human language... the book is written clearly and accessibly throughout, with numerous helpful examples and illustrations. It offers students new to the field a lively, informed introduction to linguistics.
European Journal of Communication
Winkler's work provides a solid introduction to the field of linguistics. Covering major subfields in a concise and clear fashion, this book will serve as an excellent introduction to the field for majors and non-majors alike. Winkler presents rather complex and technical ideas in a lively and disarming manner that makes the material both accessible and engaging. Winkler has written a work the not only introduces the field of linguistics to novice students, but also illuminates our current understanding of language and the techniques and tools linguists use to achieve that understanding.
Shannon Bischoff, Assistant Professor, English & Linguistics, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA
For an introductory text to be successful it must be clear, captivating and complete... Elizabeth Winkler manages to incorporate all these key elements while also finding a way to make linguistics fun... While some introductory textbooks in this field can be overwhelming for students, Winkler never fails to keep the reader's attention. Her sense of humour, along with references to The Simpsons, Monty Python and Facebook Chat, all help to make this book highly appealing to the young student reader... For me, this book reaches beyond the expectations of an introductory text. Winkler furnishes the reader with a multifaceted knowledge of linguistics while also providing an enjoyable and engaging read --. - Times Higher Education Supplement (Textbook Guide)
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