Linguistics for Everyone: An Introduction, 2nd Edition

Kristin Denham, Anne Lobeck

Copyright 2013
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Linguistics for Everyone: An Introduction 2nd Edition by Kristin Denham/Anne Lobeck

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Overview
Meet the Authors
What's New
Features
Table of Contents
Pricing

Overview

LINGUISTICS FOR EVERYONE: AN INTRODUCTION, Second Edition, will capture the interest of all students, regardless of major, and offer them a thorough, engaging introduction to the science of language. To achieve this goal, the authors devised a unique arrangement of chapters that distinguishes this book from conventional introductory linguistics textbooks. Without sacrificing rigor, the authors focus on larger themes rather than on technical details or formal analysis. The book opens with a strong introductory chapter addressing basics such as how to define language, prescriptive versus descriptive grammar, differences between the human language system and other animal communication systems, and so on. The second chapter, devoted to language, mind, and brain, addresses both psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic evidence for humans' innate capacity for language. To address core linguistics areas in depth, there are two chapters each on phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Throughout the text, special features relate the study of linguistics to the language we use in the real world and every chapter includes innovative and varied activities that review and practice the content and offer your students many opportunities to apply the knowledge in their own lives.

Meet the Authors

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Kristin Denham

Kristin Denham is an associate professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham; she earned a Ph.D. at the University of Washington. She and Anne Lobeck teach linguistics in the English Department and Linguistics Program at Western Washington University. They are editors of LANGUAGE IN THE SCHOOLS: INTEGRATING LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE INTO K-12 TEACHING (Erlbaum, 2005) and LINGUISTICS AT SCHOOL: LANGUAGE AWARENESS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (forthcoming from Cambridge University Press). Both authors are active in research, publishing, and professional associations as well as in teaching and advising students.

Anne Lobeck

Anne Lobeck is a professor at Western Washington University in Bellingham; she earned a Ph.D. at the University of Washington. She and Kristin Denham teach linguistics in the English Department and Linguistics Program at Western Washington University. They are editors of LANGUAGE IN THE SCHOOLS: INTEGRATING LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE INTO K-12 TEACHING (Erlbaum, 2005) and LINGUISTICS AT SCHOOL: LANGUAGE AWARENESS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (forthcoming from Cambridge University Press). Lobeck is also the author of DISCOVERING GRAMMAR: AN INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH SENTENCE STRUCTURE (Oxford University Press, 2000). Both authors are active in research, publishing, and professional associations as well as in teaching and advising students and service.

What's New

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The text has been thoroughly updated and revised. Some topics have been expanded or clarified and others have been streamlined based upon reviewers' suggestions.
There are now more examples and exercises in different languages (e.g., Quiche, Icelandic) integrated throughout the text.
Alternative IPA symbols are now included in the text.
Several hallmark features such as "Did You Know?" "Language Alive!", "Linguistics in the News" have been refreshed and replaced. These unique features increase student comprehension of the core text material.

Features

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Unique features highlight the concept of "living language": "Language Alive!" addresses linguistically the way we speak (why do we say tenashoes? who vs. whom) and how language changes and evolves. "Did You Know . . .?" offers instructive information on language (double negatives) as well as general content (the first grammarian, Grimm's tales). "Linguistics in the News" concerns topics from the news media (Watson the computer, language gene). "Accent on . . ." presents applications of linguistics in professions (speech pathologist, dialect coach).
Core areas-- phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics--each have two chapters rather than one as in traditional texts, thus making the book more accessible and easier to teach.
Language change and variation, with examples from current and historical forms of English, are integrated throughout rather than in isolated chapters.
Chapters open with "Chapter at a Glance" outlines. Key terms are defined in the margin next to the discussion where they are introduced. Chapters end with an extensive "Review, Practice, and Explore" section that offers many exercises, activities, and research topics. Marginal icons key end-of-chapter activities to text.
The style of the book mirrors its content: it is accessible, fresh, and fun, but also pedagogically sound and theoretically informed.

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1. What Is Language and How Do We Study It?
2. The Human Capacity for Language.
3. Phonetics: Describing Sounds.
4. Phonology: The Sound Patterns of Language.
5. Morphology: Words and Their Parts.
6. Morphological Typology and Word Formation.
7. Syntax: Heads and Phrases.
8. Syntax: Phrase Structure and Syntactic Rules.
9. Semantics: Making Meaning with Words.
10. Semantics and Pragmatics: Making Meaning with Sentences.
11. The Early Story of English.
12. English Goes Global.
13. Representing Language: The Written Word.
14. The Life Cycle of Language.