内容简介
《语言学入门》以通俗的英语向读者介绍了当代语言学所涉及的诸多领域和学科，包括语言的定义、词汇学、语义学、音位学、句法学、文体学等。Thisbook introduces the nature of language. It deals with the soundsthat we make when we speak, with the way in which we constructsentences, with the ways in which our speech varies between socialsituations, and so no. It does so by the commonly adopted method ofhaving chapters with such headings as phonetics, syntax, socialvariation. Less conventionally, it has a major chapter which,againse the background of these aspects of linguistics, presentsthe principal features of the languages of western Europe. You haveat least one remarkable skill; you can speak a language. For atleast one language you generally know what can and what cannot bedesignated by the everyday words, you know what is and what is notan acceptable way of combining words to form a sentence, you have agood idea of whether or not a particular statement would beacceptable in a particular social situation. As a skilled user,then, you already have a substantial foundation for the study oflanguage. That foundation and an interest in language are all youneed; given those, this introductory book can lead you to anunderstanding of what language consists of ,of how it works. Itserves as an introductory book for students of linguistics and asimportant background material for students of modern languages.Reflecting my work in continuing education, I have attempted towrite in a readable style that will also made the book attractiveto the many people who want to explore the fascinating world oflanguage without entering full-time education. I would like tothank my wife Bery1 and a student, Arthur McIvor, for taking timeto read and comment on my draft. I also thank Bery1 for her supportand tolerance while I was working on the book. I also thank Arthuras a representative of those students whose interest andenthusiansm help to inspire and reward my work. The facilties ofthe University of Edinburgh such as the library and word-processingfacilities have been of great assistance.