an introduction to language victoria fromkin robert rodman nina hyams

A glossary and an index at the end of the volume make it easier to navigate its contents. Lists of references for further study will be appreciated both by the teacher and by the more ambitious student. Sections summarizing the contents of each chapter facilitate quick review of the material. While the majority of examples are taken from English, each chapter is followed by exercises based on data drawn from a variety of sources and languages. This quick enumeration does not, however, reflect the wealth of information and the depth of insight offered on many of these topics although an introductory text, it surpasses many other publications in this category in both aspects. The more specific topics include, among others, general properties of language language universals animal systems of communication the relationship between language and the brain language origin the morphological, syntactic, phonetic, and phonological aspects of language structure the problems of semantics and pragmatics language acquisition bilingualism teaching methods teaching language to chimpanzees computational linguistics regional and social diversification of language language change and major types of writing systems. Pedagogues will certainly appreciate the grouping: Such organization of the material makes it easier for the teacher to construct and follow a syllabus for a two-semester course. The contents are divided into twelve chapters grouped into four parts: ‘The nature of human language’ (1–65), ‘Grammatical aspects of language’ (67–337), ‘The psychology of language’ (339–441), and ‘Language and society’ (443–572). Largely a continuation of the work of the late Victoria Fromkin, the new edition has been revised, reorganized, and updated by Robert Rodman and Nina Hyams to reflect current progress in linguistic research and to make it more accessible to language students.

No doubt the seventh edition of this already classic introductory textbook to linguistics will be welcomed with the enthusiasm it deserves.

An introduction to language victoria fromkin robert rodman nina hyams