Language: The Basics: Second Edition (the Basics)

Language: The Basics From reviews of the first edition: ‘Trask achieves more than he promises in the introduction; his “userfriendly” book provides not only basic information on language and linguistics, but will…foster the reader’s further interest in this area.’ Language International ‘This is the perfect book for anybody who indicates an interest in learning about languages…. The style is entertaining and to the point’ Language ‘Very readable—gives a stimulating introduction to the major areas of language study.’ A.Clafferty, Staffordshire University ‘It covers a wide range of topics related to language in an accessible manner without being superficial.’ Michael Lockwood, Reading University Language: The Basics provides a concise introduction to the study of language. Written in an engaging and entertaining style, it encourages the reader to think about the way language works. New features in the second edition include: • a chapter on ‘Language in Use’ which introduces pragmatics, metaphor, speech and writing, and discourse analysis; • a section on sign language; • a glossary of key terms; • expanded further reading sections. Language: The Basics provides an accessible overview of a fascinating subject. It is an essential book for all students and anyone who’s ever been accused of splitting an infinitive. R.L.Trask is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex and author of Key Concepts in Language and Linguistics and A Dictionary of Grammatical Terms in Linguistics and Language Change. Other titles in this series include: Philosophy: The Basics Nigel Warburton Politics: The Basics Steven D.Tansey Sociology: The Basics Martin Albrow Language: The Basics Second edition ■ R.L. Trask LONDON AND NEW YORK First published 1995 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Second edition 1999 © 1995, 1999 R.L. Trask Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. "To purchase your own copy of this or any of "Taylor & Francis or Routledge's collection of thousand of eBook please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk." All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data Trask, R.L. (Robert Lawrence), 1944– Language : the basics / R.L. Trask.—2nd ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index. 1. Language and languages. I. Title. P106.T695 1999 400–dc21 98–31507 ISBN 0-203-16528-4 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-27974-3 (Adobe e-Reader Format) ISBN 0-415-20089-X (Print Edition) To my mother and to the memory of my father Contents List of illustrations ix To the reader xi Acknowledgements xii 1 The uniqueness of human language 1 <