This book first provides a comprehensive critical review of the analytic tools and theories of linguistics and systematically surveys major concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Having established the basic nature and structure of language, the final part of the book engages some of the wider issues concerning the use of language in speaking and understanding (psycholinguistics), language development in children, social aspects of language (sociolinguistics), and historical language choice.

Martin Atkinson, Iggy Roca, David Kilby

Part 1: The Nature of Language 1. Are Humans Unique? 2. The Data of Linguistics and the Nature of Learning Part 2: The Structure of Language 3. Phonetics 4. Phonology 5. Morphology 6. Syntax 7. Semantics 8. Rules and Principles in the Theory of Grammar Part 3: The Use of Language 9. Psycholinguistics 10. Language Development in Children 11. Comparative Linguistics 12. Sociolinguistics