Learn Linguistics with Fasold and Connor-Linton: A Comprehensive and Accessible Textbook
An Introduction to Language and Linguistics Fasold Ebook 56
If you are looking for a comprehensive and accessible introduction to linguistics, you might want to check out An Introduction to Language and Linguistics, a textbook edited by Ralph Fasold and Jeffrey Connor-Linton. This book covers the full range of modern linguistics, from the traditional topics of structural linguistics (relating to sound, form, meaning, and language change) to the more specialized topics of contextual linguistics (including discourse, dialect variation, language and culture, the politics of language, language and the brain, computational linguistics, writing, and language learning). Each chapter is written by an expert who teaches courses on that topic, ensuring balanced and uniformly excellent coverage. The book also includes numerous examples and exercises to help you apply your knowledge and test your understanding. Whether you are a student or a teacher of linguistics, or simply curious about language, this book will provide you with a solid foundation for exploring this fascinating field.
an introduction to language and linguistics fasold ebook 56
What is linguistics and why is it important?
Linguistics is the scientific study of language. It aims to describe how languages work, how they are used in communication, how they vary across time and space, how they are acquired by humans, how they are processed by the brain, how they can be modeled by computers, and how they relate to other aspects of human cognition and culture. Linguistics is important because language is one of the most distinctive features of human beings. It enables us to communicate with each other, to express our thoughts and feelings, to create and share knowledge, to shape our identities and relationships, and to influence our actions and decisions. By studying language, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and others, as well as of the world we live in.
The main topics of structural linguistics
Structural linguistics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the internal structure of language. It examines how language is organized into different levels of analysis, such as sounds, words, sentences, and meanings. It also investigates how language changes over time and across different languages. The book covers six main topics of structural linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and language change.
Phonetics: The sounds of language
Phonetics is the study of speech sounds. It describes how speech sounds are produced by the vocal organs, how they are classified into different categories, and how they are transcribed using symbols. Phonetics also deals with the physical properties of speech sounds, such as their frequency, intensity, and duration. Phonetics helps us to understand how we produce and perceive speech, as well as how we can improve our pronunciation and listening skills.
Phonology: The patterns of sounds
Phonology is the study of sound patterns. It explains how sounds are organized and interact in different languages. Phonology also deals with the abstract representation of sounds in the mind, as well as the rules and constraints that govern their distribution and alternation. Phonology helps us to understand how we store and manipulate sounds in our mental lexicon, as well as how we can compare and contrast different sound systems across languages.
Morphology: The structure of words
Morphology is the study of word structure. It describes how words are formed from smaller units of meaning called morphemes. Morphology also deals with the types and functions of morphemes, such as roots, affixes, inflections, and derivations. Morphology helps us to understand how we create and recognize words in our vocabulary, as well as how we can analyze and classify different word formation processes across languages.
Syntax: The structure of sentences
Syntax is the study of sentence structure. It describes how words are combined into phrases and sentences according to grammatical rules. Syntax also deals with the types and functions of syntactic categories, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and clauses. Syntax helps us to understand how we construct and interpret sentences in our grammar, as well as how we can identify and correct syntactic errors in our speech and writing.
Semantics: The meaning of language
Semantics is the study of meaning in language. It explains how meaning is expressed and interpreted in words, phrases, sentences, and texts. Semantics also deals with the types and relations of meanings, such as concepts, propositions, truth conditions, entailments, presuppositions, implicatures, and speech acts. Semantics helps us to understand how we convey and infer meaning in communication, as well as how we can resolve semantic ambiguities and paradoxes in language.
Language change: The evolution of language
Language change is the study of language evolution. It describes how languages change over time and across space. Language change also deals with the causes and effects of language change, such as social factors, cognitive factors, contact factors, innovation factors, diffusion factors, and selection factors. Language change helps us to understand how we trace the history and development of languages, as well as how we can explain and predict linguistic variation and diversity in the world.
The main topics of contextual linguistics
Contextual linguistics is the branch of linguistics that deals with the external aspects of language. It examines how language is used in different types of contexts, such as texts, interactions, regions, social groups, cultures, and situations. It also investigates how language relates to other domains of human activity, such as politics, cognition, computation, writing, and learning. The book covers eight main topics of contextual linguistics: discourse, dialect variation, language and culture, the politics of language, language and the brain, computational linguistics, writing, and language learning.
Discourse: Language beyond the sentence
Discourse is the study of language use in texts and interactions. It analyzes how language is structured and organized beyond the level of individual sentences. Discourse also deals with the functions and effects of language use in communication, such as coherence, cohesion, information structure, pragmatics, rhetoric, genre, and style. Discourse helps us to understand how we produce Dialect variation: Language across regions and social groups
Dialect variation is the study of language diversity across regions and social groups. It describes how language varies according to geographical, social, and situational factors. Dialect variation also deals with the types and patterns of linguistic variation, such as accents, vocabulary, grammar, and style. Dialect variation helps us to understand how we identify and categorize different varieties of language, as well as how we adapt and accommodate to different speakers and situations.
Language and culture: Language as a reflection of society
Language and culture is the study of language in relation to society. It explores how language is influenced by and influences cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Language and culture also deals with the types and aspects of cultural phenomena, such as norms, customs, rituals, myths, metaphors, symbols, and ideologies. Language and culture helps us to understand how we express and interpret cultural meanings in language, as well as how we negotiate and challenge cultural identities and relationships.
The politics of language: Language as a source of power and conflict
The politics of language is the study of language in relation to power and conflict. It examines how language is used to assert identity, authority, and ideology. The politics of language also deals with the types and issues of linguistic politics, such as standardization, multilingualism, language policy, language planning, language rights, language endangerment, and language revitalization. The politics of language helps us to understand how we use and abuse language in political contexts, as well as how we resist and transform linguistic oppression and domination.
Language and the brain: Language as a cognitive phenomenon
Language and the brain is the study of language in relation to cognition. It investigates how language is processed and represented in the human brain. Language and the brain also deals with the types and methods of neurolinguistics, such as brain imaging, lesion studies, electrophysiology, psycholinguistics, and cognitive linguistics. Language and the brain helps us to understand how we store Computational linguistics: Language as a computational problem
Computational linguistics is the study of language using computers. It models and analyzes language using computational methods and tools. Computational linguistics also deals with the types and applications of natural language processing, such as speech recognition, speech synthesis, machine translation, information extraction, text summarization, sentiment analysis, and dialogue systems. Computational linguistics helps us to understand how we can use computers to process and generate natural language, as well as how we can improve human-computer interaction.
Writing: Language as a visual system
Writing is the study of language as a visual system. It describes how writing systems represent spoken language in different ways. Writing also deals with the types and features of writing systems, such as alphabets, syllabaries, logographies, orthographies, and punctuation. Writing helps us to understand how we read and write in different languages, as well as how we can compare and contrast different writing systems across languages.
Language learning: Language as a skill
Language learning is the study of language acquisition by humans. It explains how children acquire their first language and how adults learn a second or foreign language. Language learning also deals with the types and factors of language acquisition, such as stages, processes, strategies, errors, input, output, feedback, motivation, and aptitude. Language learning helps us to understand how we learn and teach languages, as well as how we can enhance our linguistic competence and performance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, An Introduction to Language and Linguistics is a comprehensive and accessible textbook that covers the full range of modern linguistics. It provides a clear introduction to the traditional topics of structural linguistics (relating to sound, form, meaning, and language change), and in addition provides full coverage of contextual linguistics (including discourse, dialect variation, language and culture, the politics of language, language and the brain, computational linguistics, writing, and language learning). The book is ideal for introductory courses on language and linguistics offered by departments of English, sociology, anthropology, and communications, as well as by linguistics departments. It is also suitable for anyone who is interested in learning more about language and its fascinating aspects. If you want to get a copy of this book, you can find it online or in your local bookstore.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and linguistics:
What is the difference between an ebook and a print book?An ebook is a digital version of a book that can be read on a computer or a mobile device. A print book is a physical version of a book that can be held in your hands. Both versions have the same content and layout, but they may differ in price and availability.
Who are Ralph Fasold and Jeffrey Connor-Linton?Ralph Fasold and Jeffrey Connor-Linton are the editors of An Introduction to Language and Linguistics. They are both professors of linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington DC. They have extensive experience in teaching and researching various topics in linguistics.
What are some other books on language and linguistics that I can read?There are many other books on language and linguistics that you can read depending on your level and interest. Some examples are: The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker, The Power of Babel by John McWhorter, The Stuff of Thought by Steven Pinker, The Unfolding of Language by Guy Deutscher, The Handbook of Linguistics edited by Mark Aronoff and Janie Rees-Miller, and Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction by P.H. Matthews.
How can I learn more about linguistics online?You can learn more about linguistics online by visiting some websites that offer information and resources on linguistics. Some examples are: The Linguist List (https://linguistlist.org/), The Linguistic Society of America (https://www.linguisticsociety.org/), The World Atlas of Language Structures (https://wals.info/), The International Phonetic Association (https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/), and The Language Log (https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/).
How can I apply linguistics to my career or personal life?You can apply linguistics to your career or personal life by using your linguistic knowledge and skills in various domains and situations. Some examples are: teaching or learning languages, translating or interpreting texts or speech, analyzing or creating texts or speech, communicating or interacting with different speakers or audiences, understanding or influencing cultural meanings or values, solving or preventing linguistic problems or conflicts, and exploring or appreciating linguistic diversity or creativity.
71b2f0854b