Blackwell Textbooks in Linguistics – serie

AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLINGUISTICSThe new eighth edition of An Introduction to Sociolinguistics brings this valuable, bestselling textbook up to date with the latest in sociolinguistic research and pedagogy, providing a broad overview of the study of language in social context with accessible coverage of major concepts, theories, methods, issues, and debates within the field. This leading text helps students develop a critical perspective on language in society as they explore the complex connections between societal norms and language use. The eighth edition contains new and updated coverage of such topics as the societal aspects of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), multilingual societies and discourse, gender and sexuality, ideologies and language attitudes, and the social meanings of linguistic forms.Organized in four sections, this text first covers traditional language issues such as the distinction between languages and dialects, identification of regional and social variation within languages, and the role of context in language use and interpretation. Subsequent chapters cover approaches to research in sociolinguistics—variationist sociolinguistics, ethnography, and discourse analytic research—and address both macro– and micro-sociolinguistic aspects of multilingualism in national, transnational, global, and digital contexts. The concluding section of the text looks at language in relation to gender and sexuality, education, and language planning and policy issues. Featuring examples from a variety of languages and cultures that illustrate topics such as social and regional dialects, multilingualism, and the linguistic construction of identity, this text provides perspectives on both new and foundational research in sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology.An Introduction to Sociolinguistics, Eighth Edition, remains the ideal textbook for upper-level undergraduate and graduate course in sociolinguistics, language and society, linguistic anthropology, applied and theoretical linguistics, and education. The new edition has also been updated to support classroom application with a range of effective pedagogical tools, including end-of-chapter written exercises and an instructor website, as well as materials to support further learning such as reading suggestions, research ideas, and an updated companion student website containing a searchable glossary, a review guide, additional exercises and examples, and links to online resources.

This revised and expanded edition provides a comprehensive overview of comparative Indo-European linguistics and the branches of the Indo-European language family, covering both linguistic and cultural material. Now offering even greater coverage than the first edition, it is the definitive introduction to the field. Updated, corrected, and expanded edition, containing new illustrations of selected texts and inscriptions, and text samples with translations and etymological commentary Extensively covers individual histories of both ancient and modern languages of the Indo-European family Provides an overview of Proto-Indo-European culture, society, and language Designed for use in courses, with exercises and suggestions for further reading included in each chapter Includes maps, a glossary, a bibliography, and comprehensive word and subject indexes

This textbook provides an introduction to pragmatics from the point of view of Sperber and Wilson's Relevance Theory. The first part lays down the foundations of a relevance theoretic approach to utterance understanding, which is then applied to the analysis of a range of phenomena which are central to pragmatics.

This is the first near-exhaustive introduction to the burgeoning field of morphology in generative grammar. Presupposing very little prior knowledge of linguistics, the book guides the reader from absolute basics to the most recent theoretical developments. Written in an accessible style, and including a wealth of exercises, this textbook is designed so that it can be used either on courses explicitly focused on morphology or as an adjunct to other courses, particularly in generative syntax and in phonology. The book opens with an account of the phenomena studied by morphologists, an outline of classical problems and an introduction to the earliest models of morphology proposed within the generative paradigm. Its second part deals with the interface between morphology and phonology and includes a detailed discussion of lexical Phonology, and related models, as well as a variety of types of nonconcatenative morphology.Part III begins with a comprehensive introduction to more recent theories of word structure, including inflectional morphology. Subsequent chapters examine the interface between morphology and syntax, exploring the processes which affect grammatical relations, such as passives and causatives. Further chapters examine compounding processes and the morphology, phonology and syntax of clitic systems. The final part of the book includes a full discussion of "bracketing paradoxes" and closes with a survey of models of morphology and competing views of the place of morphology in linguistic theory.

This is a guide to the various frameworks, concepts, and methods available for the analysis of discourse within linguistics. It compares six dominant approaches to discourse analysis: speech act theory, pragmatics, ethnomethodology, interactional sociolinguistics, ethnography of communication, and variation theory. The author not only considers each approach from several standpoints but she also illustrates them through extensive applications to a variety of concrete social and linguistic problems facing discourse analysts.

This text is an up-to-date introduction to language acquisition, designed to meet the needs of advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in linguistics and cognitive science. It is the first language acquisition text to be written from the perspective of recent theoretical linguistics, and uses Chomskyan generative grammar as a framework for description. Taking models and analyses from generative phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics, Professor Goodluck describes children's language acquisition using examples from a variety of languages. Further chapters take up central questions concerning cognitive mechanisms by which children process language and form rules, the nature of the input to the language learner, and the relation between language development and other aspects of cognitive development. The book is extensively illustrated with models and figures, and each chapter is followed by questions for discussion and suggestions for further reading. It also includes a full bibliography.

This book provides an introduction to Generalised Phrase Structure Grammar (GPSG) and Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG), theories which have formed one of the main currents in syntactic theory since 1980.

This book is intended primarily for undergraduate students of English, though it will also be useful for undergraduates in linguistics focusing on English. It shows how a restricted set of principles can account for a wide range of the phenomena of English syntax. While the main focus of the book is empirical, it introduces important theoretical concepts: theta theory, X-bar theory, case theory, locality, binding theory, economy, full interpretation, functional projections. In doing so it prepares the student for more advanced theoretical work. The authors integrate many recent insights into the nature of syntactic structure into their discussion. They present information in a gradual way: hypotheses developed in early chapters are reviewed and modified in subsequent ones. The authors also pay attention to the relation between structure and interpretation and to language variation, and particularly to register variation. They include a wide range of diverse exercises, giving the student an opportunity for creative individual work on English.

This book is intended primarily for undergraduate students of English, though it will also be useful for undergraduates in linguistics focusing on English. It shows how a restricted set of principles can account for a wide range of the phenomena of English syntax. While the main focus of the book is empirical, it introduces important theoretical concepts: theta theory, X-bar theory, case theory, locality, binding theory, economy, full interpretation, functional projections. In doing so it prepares the student for more advanced theoretical work. The authors integrate many recent insights into the nature of syntactic structure into their discussion. They present information in a gradual way: hypotheses developed in early chapters are reviewed and modified in subsequent ones. The authors also pay attention to the relation between structure and interpretation and to language variation, and particularly to register variation. They include a wide range of diverse exercises, giving the student an opportunity for creative individual work on English.

Since its first publication in 1991 Liliane Haegeman's Introduction to Government and Binding Theory has become established as the most authoritative introduction to the Principles and Parameters approach to syntactic theory. This new edition has been extensively updated throughout. Major structural changes include new chapters on Functional Heads and Head Movement and on Relativized Minimality. Discussions of a number of topics missing from or not paid due attention in the first edition have been integrated or expanded, for example: the structure of small clauses (in chaprer 2), chain formation (in chapter 6), and reconstruction, multiple movement, wh-absorption, Full Interpretation, and expletive replacement (in chapter 9). The copious exercises have been revised to increase potential for creativty and flexibility of approach. New exericases highlight further controversial issues. In short, this book offers a complete, updated introduction to the current state of Government and Binding Theory, suitable for readers with some basic knowledge of generative linguistics.

Linguistics and Literature is the first book to offer an overview of how linguistic theory can be applied to the oral and written literatures of the world

This book goes beyond the boundaries of a standard text, using controversial and compelling ideas to explore the relationship between fundamental concepts in historical linguistics. An original and engaging introduction to the subject of historical linguistics Presents controversial but compelling ideas in developing a clear understanding as to why historical linguistics has had significant success in some domains, such as phonological history, and why it is considerably less successful in others Explores the relationship between fundamental concepts in historical linguistics, topics such as 'language' and 'change', and corresponding notions in contemporary (synchronic) linguistic theory Features extensive discussion of traditional and theoretically-oriented historical work in the domains of phonology and syntax.

This book goes beyond the boundaries of a standard text, using controversial and compelling ideas to explore the relationship between fundamental concepts in historical linguistics. An original and engaging introduction to the subject of historical linguistics Presents controversial but compelling ideas in developing a clear understanding as to why historical linguistics has had significant success in some domains, such as phonological history, and why it is considerably less successful in others Explores the relationship between fundamental concepts in historical linguistics, topics such as 'language' and 'change', and corresponding notions in contemporary (synchronic) linguistic theory Features extensive discussion of traditional and theoretically-oriented historical work in the domains of phonology and syntax.

Written by two of the leading figures in the field, this is a lucid and systematic introduction to formal semantics.

A History of English provides an intelligent and accessible synthesis of modern sociolinguistic approaches to the development of the English Language.

Accessibly written, Writing Systems: A Linguistic Approach provides detailed coverage of all major writing systems of historical or structural significance with thorough discussion of structure, history, and social context as well as important theoretical issues. Discusses systems as diverse as Chinese, Greek, and Maya.Presents each system in light of four major aspects of writing: history and development, internal structure, the relationship of writing and language, and sociolinguistic aspects.Includes glossary of technical terms, extensive illustrations, exercises and further reading suggestions to aid in teaching from the book.

Accessibly written, Writing Systems: A Linguistic Approach provides detailed coverage of all major writing systems of historical or structural significance with thorough discussion of structure, history, and social context as well as important theoretical issues. Discusses systems as diverse as Chinese, Greek, and Maya.Presents each system in light of four major aspects of writing: history and development, internal structure, the relationship of writing and language, and sociolinguistic aspects.Includes glossary of technical terms, extensive illustrations, exercises and further reading suggestions to aid in teaching from the book.

An accessible yet in-depth introductory textbook on the basic concepts of phonetics, fully updated and revisedThis broad, interdisciplinary textbook investigates how speech can be written down, how speech is produced, its acoustic characteristics, and how listeners perceive speech. Phonetics: Transcription, Production, Acoustics, and Perception introduces readers to the fundamental concepts of the discipline, providing coverage of all four areas of phonetics. This comprehensive textbook also familiarizes readers with concepts from other disciplines related to phonetics—such as physiology, anatomy, and psychology—through relatable, real-life examples.Now in its second edition, the text has been substantially revised to improve clarity and currency, based on student feedback received by the authors over the past decade. Brief “Nutshell” introductions have been added to all chapters to provide a clear overview of key points within the body of the text. Expanded content to this new edition examines voice quality, the acoustic correlates of different phonation types, intonation, and different theories of speech perception. Written in a clear and concise style by two of the field’s leading scholars, this textbook: Covers related relevant areas, including vocal fold vibration and the physiology of the earOffers examples from other languages to highlight aspects of phonetics not found in EnglishIncludes chapter-by-chapter exercises, engaging illustrations, and a detailed glossaryFeatures a companion website containing additional resources such as figures and sound filesPhonetics: Transcription, Production, Acoustics, and Perception, 2nd Edition is an ideal text for both introductory and advanced courses in phonetics and speech science, general linguistics, related disciplines such as psychology, speech pathology, and audiology, and for anyone interested to learn about how we speak and hear.

A new edition of an essential pragmatics textbook, updated for a new generation of students Introduction to Pragmatics equips students with a comprehensive understanding of how context shapes language, covering both foundational concepts and cutting-edge issues with an interdisciplinary approach. Assuming no previous background in the subject, this student-friendly textbook describes how meaning is created and interpreted. This fully revised new edition addresses contemporary questions surrounding language in society, with increased focus on technological trends and real-world applications of pragmatics. Updated chapters explore politeness theory, presupposition, the boundary between semantics and pragmatics, the pragmatics of linguistic diversity and speech communities, the philosophical background of pragmatics, and the role of language in law, advertising, and politics. Two entirely new chapters on social pragmatics and artificial intelligence (AI) are accompanied by expanded material on noncanonical syntax, information structure, and lexical pragmatics. Offering an ideal balance between theoretical foundations and practical applications, Introduction to Pragmatics, Second Edition: Provides clear and accessible explanations of complex concepts such as presupposition, implicature, inference, and optimality theoryEngages with AI and machine communication, exploring the implications for human-language interactionOffers fresh examples, comprehension exercises, and discussion questions to engage students in real-world language analysisFeatures new case studies that focus on contemporary issues such as politics and propagandaIntroduction to Pragmatics, Second Edition, is the ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in pragmatics and semantics as well as related courses in linguistics and language education.

Thinking Syntactically: A Guide to Argumentation and Analysis is a textbook designed to teach introductory students the skills of relating data to theory and theory to data. Helps students develop their thinking and argumentation skills rather than merely introducing them to one particular version of syntactic theory.Structured around a wide range of exercises that use clear and compelling logic to build arguments and lead up to theoretical proposals.Data drawn from current media sources, including newspapers, books, and television programs, to help students formulate and test hypotheses.Generative in spirit, but does not focus on specific theoretical approaches but enables students to understand and evaluate different approaches more easily.Written by an established author with an international reputation.

Thinking Syntactically: A Guide to Argumentation and Analysis is a textbook designed to teach introductory students the skills of relating data to theory and theory to data. Helps students develop their thinking and argumentation skills rather than merely introducing them to one particular version of syntactic theory.Structured around a wide range of exercises that use clear and compelling logic to build arguments and lead up to theoretical proposals.Data drawn from current media sources, including newspapers, books, and television programs, to help students formulate and test hypotheses.Generative in spirit, but does not focus on specific theoretical approaches but enables students to understand and evaluate different approaches more easily.Written by an established author with an international reputation.

This fully revised third edition integrates updated references, new findings, and modern theories, to present readers with the most thorough and complete introduction to phonetics and phonology. Exceptionally thorough, including detailed attention to articulatory and acoustic phonetics as well as to the foundations of phonological analysisFeatures a number of valuable changes, incorporating new material on the latest findings in speech production studies; greater coverage of prosody, including a major section on autosegmental metrical models; expanded coverage of phonology, including Optimality Theory; and sections on L1 and L2 acquisition, and sociolectal variationIntegrates new findings, theories references throughout, offering students the most thorough and complete knowledge of the subject to dateIncludes 125 figures throughout

Introduction to Pragmatics guides students through traditional and new approaches in the field, focusing particularly on phenomena at the elusive semantics/pragmatics boundary to explore the role of context in linguistic communication. Offers students an accessible introduction and an up-to-date survey of the field, encompassing both established and new approaches to pragmaticsAddresses the traditional range of topics – such as implicature, reference, presupposition, and speech acts – as well as newer areas of research, including neo-Gricean theories, RelevanceTheory, information structure, inference, and dynamic approaches to meaningExplores the relationship and boundaries between semantics and pragmaticsIdeal for students coming to pragmatics for the first time

Accessible, succinct, and including numerous student-friendly features, this introductory textbook offers an exceptional foundation to the field for those who are coming to it for the first time. Provides an ideal first course book in phonology, written by a renowned phonologistDeveloped and tested in the classroom through years of experience and useEmphasizes analysis of phonological data, placing this in its scientific context, and explains the relevant methodologyGuides students through the larger questions of what phonological patterns reveal about languageIncludes numerous course-friendly features, including multi-part exercises and annotated suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter

Accessible, succinct, and including numerous student-friendly features, this introductory textbook offers an exceptional foundation to the field for those who are coming to it for the first time. Provides an ideal first course book in phonology, written by a renowned phonologistDeveloped and tested in the classroom through years of experience and useEmphasizes analysis of phonological data, placing this in its scientific context, and explains the relevant methodologyGuides students through the larger questions of what phonological patterns reveal about languageIncludes numerous course-friendly features, including multi-part exercises and annotated suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter

Lexical-Functional Syntax, 2nd Edition, the definitive text for Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) with a focus on syntax, is updated to reflect recent developments in the field. Provides both an introduction to LFG and a synthesis of major theoretical developments in lexical-functional syntax over the past few decadesIncludes in-depth discussions of a large number of syntactic phenomena from typologically diverse languagesFeatures extensive problem sets and solutions in each chapter to aid in self-studyIncorporates reader feedback from the 1st Edition to correct errors and enhance clarity