How Languages Work: An Introduction to Language and Linguistics

How Languages Work is designed to be the primary text for a university-level introductory course in linguistics. The audience for the book includes: • undergraduates taking an introductory linguistics course as a general education requirement; • beginning linguistics students with limited background in the field; • linguistics graduate students seeking a helpful reference and introductory discussions of a wide range of sub-disciplines and a range of languages; • students in related disciplines (such as education, anthropology, writing, or communication) that seek grounding in linguistics; and • general readers with an avid love of languages. In addition to courses offered within departments of linguistics, the book might be used in departments of anthropology, education, psychology, communication, applied linguistics, English, or other languages. It introduces the field of linguistics through its subfields, and prepares students for more advanced and specialized coursework.