Cover of Linguistics

Linguistics

by David Crystal · 1971

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An introduction to the scientific study of language, this short book explains what linguists actually do and how they go about it. It looks at the sounds of speech, the way words are built and joined into sentences, and the meaning carried by both. The author shows how languages can be described without ranking one above another, and considers how language changes over time and varies from place to place and from person to person. Written for readers new to the subject, it sets out the basic terms and methods a student needs before going further, and it asks why language matters to how we think and live together.

Audience
adult
Length
medium · 288 pages

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