Language: the Basics

Fully updated and revised, this popular text now contains a chapter on language usage which introduces pragmatics, metaphor, speech and writing, and discourse analysis, a section on sign language, a glossary of key terms, and an expanded further reading section. Trask also addresses issues such as the uniqueness of the human language, language and meaning, variation in language, change in language, learning a first language and attitudes toward language.

This text provides a basic grounding in English grammar, without going into too much detail or theory. Exercises are provided at the end of each chapter, and the book includes integrated diagrams and a glossary of technical terms.

Casting a critical eye upon the position described in his previous book, Superstructuralism, Richard Harland claims that structuralist and post-structuralist approaches to language are fatally limited by their focus upon single words. Instead he offers the alternative of a syntagmatic approach, arguing that the nature of meaning is radically transformed in the movement from single words to sentences.

Becoming a Translator provides the information and advice that translators really need, such as how to translate faster and more accurately, how the job market works, and how to deal with stress. Organized in a user-friendly style, the book provides translators creative activities and exercises designed to speed the learning of both theory and practice.

Key Concepts in Language and Linguistics is an A-Z guide to the main terms and concepts used in the study of language and linguistics. The book includes definitions of terms used in grammatical analysis from phoneme to componential analysis; branches of linguistics from semantics to neurolinguistics; approaches used in studying language from discourse analysis to systemic linguistics; linguistic phenomena from code-switching to conversational implicature; and language varieties from pidgin to standard language. Each entry begins with a brief definition of the term followed by a more detailed description. Entries trace the origin of the concept, mention the key associated individuals, provide a guide to further reading and are extensively cross- referenced.