Language: The Big Picture
1st Edition
Published on 11. December 2008
272 pages
978-1-4411-8883-0 (ISBN)
Description
We use language everyday in every aspect of our lives, whether at school, work, or home, with friends, colleagues or family. The ability to use language is so important that it defines what makes us human. Yet what is language? And how does it work? In this introduction to language, Peter Sharpe answers a series of questions about language to show its inner workings. Drawing on expertise from many disciplines, he examines the origins of language, how language produces meaning, the variation of language across cultures, how language is used in society, and whether or not there is a "correct" way to use language. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and signposts for further reading make this the essential introduction to language for inquisitive readers and undergraduates.
Reviews / Votes
"Language: The Big Picture is a useful introduction to linguistics, written in a style which makes this potentially dry subject attractive, even fascinating."- Dr Reinhard Hartmann, Head of Applied Linguistics and Director of the Dictionary Research Centre, University of Exeter, UK. 'A good introduction to this study of languages, showing how they start, grow, develop, change, and are used.' Writing Magazine, May 2009 "Language: The Big Picture is an ambitious work, ranging over vast territory in just over 250 pages. As such, it demands close attention-even on the part of the professional language scholar."More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-8883-0 (9781441188830)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/2008
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€137.30
Shipment within 15-20 days
Book
12/2008
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
€34.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Peter Sharpe is Professor in the Department of English at Takushoku University, Japan. He is best known for his compilation of an English-Japanese dictionary for foreign learners of Japanese.
Content
Introduction
1. What are the origins of language?
2. Is language exclusive to humans?
3. Why do languages change?
4. How does language vary across cultures?
5. Where does Noam Chomsky fit into linguistics?
6. How scientific can linguistic theory be?
7. What makes semantics difficult?
8. From Whence the power of symbols?
9. How is language represented in the mind?
Bibliography
Index
1. What are the origins of language?
2. Is language exclusive to humans?
3. Why do languages change?
4. How does language vary across cultures?
5. Where does Noam Chomsky fit into linguistics?
6. How scientific can linguistic theory be?
7. What makes semantics difficult?
8. From Whence the power of symbols?
9. How is language represented in the mind?
Bibliography
Index
