Table Of ContentBrief Contents Inside Front Cover Dialect Map of American English, Consonant Phonemes of American English, Vowel Phonemes of American English Inside Back Cover Brief Timeline for the History of the English Language Detailed Contents List of Symbols, Linguistic Conventions, and Common Abbreviations What''s New to This Edition Preface to Instructors Letter to Students Chapter 1 A Language like English Chapter 2 Language and Authority Chapter 3 English Phonology Chapter 4 English Morphology Chapter 5 English Syntax: The Grammar of Words Chapter 6 English Syntax: Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences Chapter 7 Semantics Chapter 8 Spoken Discourse Chapter 9 Stylistics Chapter 10 Language Acquisition Chapter 11 Language Variation Chapter 12 American Dialects Chapter 13 History of English: Old to Early Modern English Chapter 14 History of English: Modern and Future English Glossary Bibliography Credits Index Detailed Table of Contents Inside Front Cover Consonant Phonemes of English, Vowel Phonemes of English, Phonetic Alphabet for American English Inside Back Cover Brief Timeline for the History of the English Language List of Symbols, Linguistic Conventions, and Common Abbreviations xviii What''s New to This Edition Preface to Instructors Letter to Students Chapter 1 A Language Like English The Story of Aks Language, Language Everywhere The Power of Language Name Calling Judging by Ear A Question to Discuss: What Makes Us Hear an Accent? The System of Language Arbitrariness and Systematicity A Scholar to Know: Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913) Creativity Grammar Linguistics Human Language versus Animal Communication Birds and Bees Chimps and Bonobos Distinctive Characteristics of Human Language The Process of Language Change Language Genealogies A Question to Discuss: Can Your Language Peeves Be Rethought? Mechanics of Language Change Progress or Decay? Special Focus: Attitudes about Language Change Summary Suggested Reading Exercises Chapter 2 Language and Authority Who Is in Control? Language Academies Language Mavens A Question to Discuss: Does the SAT Know Good Grammar from Bad? Defining Standard English Descriptive versus Prescriptive Grammar Rules Case Study One: Multiple Negatives Case Study Two: Ain''t Case Study Three: Who and Whom The Status of Prescriptive Rules Spoken versus Written Language A Question to Discuss: Are We Losing Our Memories? Dictionaries of English The Earliest Dictionaries of English The Beginnings of Modern Lexicography Historical Lexicography American Lexicography A Question to Discuss: Should Dictionaries Ever Prescribe? English Grammar, Usage, and Style The Earliest Usage Books Prescriptive versus Descriptive Tendencies in Grammars of English Modern Approaches to English Usage Special Focus: Corpus Linguistics Brief History of Corpus Linguistics Applications of Corpus Linguistics in the Twenty-first Century Summary Suggested Reading Exercises Chapter 3 English Phonology Phonetics and Phonology The Anatomy of Speech <p style="MARG
SynopsisA major introductory language/linguistics textbook written specifically for English and Education majors, this book is an engaging introduction to the structure of English, general theories in linguistics, and important issues in sociolinguistics.¿ ¿ This accessible text provides more extensive coverage of issues of particular interest to English and Education majors.¿ Tapping into our natural curiosity about language, it invites all students to connect academic linguistics to everyday use of the English language and to become active participants in the construction of linguistic knowledge. ¿ The second edition provides updated examples of language change--including new slang and other word coinages, grammatical developments, and sound changes--as well as new research findings on American dialects, language acquisition, language evolution, eggcorns, English and the Internet, and much more., A major introductory language/linguistics textbook written specifically for English and Education majors, this book is an engaging introduction to the structure of English, general theories in linguistics, and important issues in sociolinguistics. This accessible text provides more extensive coverage of issues of particular interest to English and Education majors. Tapping into our natural curiosity about language, it invites all students to connect academic linguistics to everyday use of the English language and to become active participants in the construction of linguistic knowledge. The second edition provides updated examples of language change--including new slang and other word coinages, grammatical developments, and sound changes--as well as new research findings on American dialects, language acquisition, language evolution, eggcorns, English and the Internet, and much more., This accessible introduction to the structure of English, general theories in linguistics, and important issues in sociolinguistics, is the first text written specifically for English and Education majors. This engaging introductory language/linguistics textbook provides more extensive coverage of issues of particular interest to English majors and future English instructors. It invites all students to connect academic linguistics to the everyday use of the English language around them. The book's approach taps students' natural curiosity about the English language. Through exercises and discussion questions about ongoing changes in English, How English Works asks students to become active participants in the construction of linguistic knowledge., This accessible introduction to the structure of English, general theories in linguistics, and important issues in sociolinguistics, is the first introductory linguistics textbook written specifically for English instructors and educators. KEY TOPICS: Focuses on issues such as American dialects, descriptive and prescriptive approaches to English grammar, the history of English, English spelling, stylistics, language attitudes, and language education. Tapping into our natural curiosity about language, it invites readers to connect academic linguistics to everyday use of the English language and to become active participants in the construction of linguistic knowledge. The third edition provides updated examples of current language change--including new slang and other word coinages, grammatical developments, and sound changes--as well as new research findings on American dialects, language acquisition, language evolution, eggcorns, English and the Internet, and much more. MARKET: For anyone interested in the structure of English, general theories in linguistics, and important issues in sociolinguistics.