Robert Freidin is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Princeton University, New Jersey and author of Syntax: Basic Concepts and Applications (Cambridge, 2012).

'Deeply informed and engagingly presented, these compelling adventures succeed admirably in achieving the author's intention to reveal 'something of the hidden depth and abstract nature of our knowledge of the language we speak' and to show how 'endlessly fascinating' language is – its structure and how we can use it effectively.' Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Arizona

• 1. One fish two fish: an adventure in ambiguity; 2. Exceptional students and teachers; 3. Introduction to language and linguistics; 4. A review of a book by two philosophers; 5. Bob is certain to succeed; 6. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife; 7. Does every politician who cheats instinctively lie?; 8. Inferior defenses could then, as now, be tackled, as Vernon did at Porto Bello, Exmouth at Algiers, and Seymour at Alexandria; Concluding comment.

Robert Freidin is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Princeton University, New Jersey and author of Syntax: Basic Concepts and Applications (Cambridge, 2012).

'Deeply informed and engagingly presented, these compelling adventures succeed admirably in achieving the author's intention to reveal 'something of the hidden depth and abstract nature of our knowledge of the language we speak' and to show how 'endlessly fascinating' language is – its structure and how we can use it effectively.' Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Arizona

• 1. One fish two fish: an adventure in ambiguity; 2. Exceptional students and teachers; 3. Introduction to language and linguistics; 4. A review of a book by two philosophers; 5. Bob is certain to succeed; 6. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife; 7. Does every politician who cheats instinctively lie?; 8. Inferior defenses could then, as now, be tackled, as Vernon did at Porto Bello, Exmouth at Algiers, and Seymour at Alexandria; Concluding comment.