1. Introduction
Part One: Words
2. Word Classes
3. Forming New Words
4. Meaning of Words
Part Two: Syntax and Discourse
5. The Simple Sentence
6. Compound and Complex Sentences
7. Using Language
Part Three: Speech and Writing
8. Phonetics
9. Phonology
10. Writing
Part Four: Variation and Change
11. Varieties
12. Language Change
Part Five: The Brain
13. Language Acquisition
14. Language Processing: Brains and Computers
15. The Origin of Language
Glossary of Terms
References and Further Reading
Index
Barry Blake has been teaching students about language for almost
four decades. He is now Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at La
Trobe University. With R. M. W. Dixon he co-edited five volumes of
the Handbook of Australian Languages (Benjamins 1979, 1981, 1983;
OUP 1991, 2000). His many outstanding books include Case (second
edition CUP 2001), Relational Grammar (Routledge 1990), as well as
several foundational works on Australian
Aboriginal languages.
An informative and highly readable overview of basic linguistic ideas and debates. Barry Blake succeeds in making complex concepts accessible to beginning students without talking down to them. If I hadn't retired last year, I'd very likely use the book myself as a text in the undergraduate-level introduction to linguistics. Frederick J. Newmeyer, University of Washington and University of British Columbia A stimulating introduction to linguistics and language study. All About Language is clearly written and contains a wealth of thought-provoking and interesting examples taken from English as well as from other languages, including signing. It has a nicely judged set of topics that cover an enormous range in a short space. Keith Brown, University of Cambridge
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