An Introduction to Language introduces students to the fascinating study of human language. Engagingly and clearly written, it provides an overview of the key areas of linguistics from an Australian perspective. The International Phonetic Alphabet is represented by both HCE and MD versions, allowing lecturers to use whichever IPA system they prefer.
The text is divided into four sections, and chapters take students through the nature of human language, the grammatical aspects and psychology of language, finishing with language and its relation to society. Chapters have also been reworked and revised to keep all syntax up-to-date and accurate.
 
Table of contants :
Part 1: The nature of human language
1. What is language?
2. Brain and language
Part 2: Grammatical aspects of language
3. Morphology: The words of language
4. Syntax: The sentence patterns of language
5. Semantics and Pragmatics: The meanings of language
6. Phonetics: The sounds of language
7. Phonology: The sound patterns of language
Part 3: The psychology of language
8. Language acquisition
9. Language processing: Humans and computers
Part 4: Language and society
10. Language in society
11. Language change: The syllables of time
12. Writing: The ABCs of language