Thinking like a Linguist
An Introduction to the Science of Language

Integrated practice and discovery problems in various languages encourage students to think analytically and scientifically about language.

Jordan B. Sandoval (Author), Kristin E. Denham (Author)

9781107183926, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 July 2021

248 pages
25.2 x 19.3 x 1.6 cm, 0.71 kg

'This clear introduction covers sound, structure, and meaning at a level appropriate for undergraduates coming to linguistics for the first time. With a steady progression, well-chosen exercises, and an engaging style, it shows beginners how to think about language scientifically. The final chapter demonstrates how linguists use the thinking introduced in the main three chapters to explore language in social settings.' Mikael Thompson, independent scholar

This is an engaging introduction to the study of language for undergraduate or beginning graduate students, aimed especially at those who would like to continue further linguistic study. It introduces students to analytical thinking about language, but goes beyond existing texts to show what it means to think like a scientist about language, through the exploration of data and interactive problem sets. A key feature of this text is its flexibility. With its focus on foundational areas of linguistics and scientific analysis, it can be used in a variety of course types, with instructors using it alongside other information or texts as appropriate for their own courses of study. The text can also serve as a supplementary text in other related fields (Speech and Hearing Sciences, Psychology, Education, Computer Science, Anthropology, and others) to help learners in these areas better understand how linguists think about and work with language data. No prerequisites are necessary. While each chapter often references content from the others, the three central chapters on sound, structure, and meaning, may be used in any order.

Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introducing Language Analysis
2. Analyzing Sound: Phonetics and Phonology
3. Analyzing Structure: Morphology and Syntax
4. Analyzing Meaning: Semantics and Pragmatics
5. Analyzing Language: Putting It All Together
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK], Phonetics, phonology [CFH], Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG], Linguistics [CF]