E-Book Overview
What do we need to know about language and why do we need to know it? This book shows how viewing the world through a linguistics lens can help us to understand how we communicate with each other and why we do it in the ways we do. Above all this book is about noticing. It is about encouraging readers to pay attention to the language that surrounds them. The book addresses fundamental linguistic questions such as: Where do people's beliefs about language come from? Who decides what language we should speak? How do we choose the best way to express what we mean? It introduces a set of practical tools for language analysis and, using examples of authentic communicative activity including overheard conversations, Facebook posts and public announcements, shows how this kind of analysis works and what it can tell us about social interaction. Exploring language and language use from a social, intercultural and multilingual perspective, the authors demonstrate the relevance of linguistics in understanding day-to-day interaction. This book will help readers not only to become informed, active observers of language for its own sake, but also to be able to take on and challenge some of the misconceptions, assumptions and prejudices that so often underlie public discussion of language issues.
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Why Do Linguistics?
Also available from Bloomsbury Developing Materials for Language Teaching, 2nd edition, edited by Brian Tomlinson Forensic Linguistics, 3rd edition, John Olsson and June Luchjenbroers Introduction to Interaction, Angela Cora Garcia Language in Education, Rita Elaine Silver and Soe Marlar Lwin Linguistics: An Introduction, William McGregor
Why Do Linguistics? Reflective linguistics and the study of language
Fiona English and Tim€Marr
Bloomsbury Academic An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc LON DON • N E W DE L H I • N E W YOR K • SY DN EY
Bloomsbury Academic An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
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www.bloomsbury.com Bloomsbury and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published 2015 © Fiona English and Tim Marr 2015 Fiona English and Tim Marr have asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Authors of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any€form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: HB: 978-1-4411-1099-2 PB: 978-1-4411-6609-8 ePDF: 978-1-4411-1083-1 ePub: 978-1-4411-2309-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data English, Fiona, author. Why do linguistics?: reflective linguistics and the study of language/ Fiona English and Tim Marr. p. cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4411-1099-2 (hardback) – ISBN 978-1-4411-6609-8 (pbk.) – ISBN 978-1-4411-2309-1 (epub) – ISBN 978-1-4411-1083-1 (epdf) 1. Linguistics–Study and teaching. 2. Language and languages–Study and teaching. I. Marr, Tim, author. II. Title. P51.E49 2014 410–dc23 2014021254 Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
In Memory of our Parents
vi
Contents Authors’ acknowledgements╇ ix Publisher’s acknowledgements╇ x
General introduction╇ 1
Part One╅ Reflective linguistics╇ 7 Introduction