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20 Best Books On Linguistics (2023 Update)
Are you looking for the Best Books On Linguistics? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Best Books On Linguistics can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Elsevier, Learning Resources, LEGO, Melissa & Doug, Nintendo, Penguin Random House, WHSmith, Amazon.com. We have done a lot of research to find the Top 20 Best Books On Linguistics available.
The average cost is $41.87. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $6.69 to a high of $273.68.
Based on the research we did, we think Linguistics For Dummies [Book] is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Books On Linguistics (20 Sellers)
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Features:
- Understand the science behind human language
- Grasp how language is constructed
- Score your highest in college-level linguistics
Features:
- The most important–and provocative–anthropological fieldwork ever undertaken. –tom wolfe
- Revelatory. there is nothing about humans that is quite as astonishing as language.–the guardian
- Language] deserves a serious reading. –the economist
Features:
- This bestselling textbook is the most fundamental and easy-to-use introduction for beginner students.
- Broad yet concise, this overview of key topics draws students in.
- The sixth edition includes substantial changes to the chapters on phonetics, grammar and syntax, eighty new study questions and twenty new tasks.
Features:
- Binding type: paperback
- Publisher: bloomsbury publishing plc
- Year published: 2004-12-01
Features:
- Binding type: hardback
- Year published: 2002-04-15
- Number of pages: 1860
Features:
- Binding type: paperback
- Year published: 2020-04-17
- Number of pages: 202
$49.22
Features:
- Publisher date: 2010-05-04
- Category: animals
- Habitats & behaviors
Features:
- Mint condition
- Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
- Guaranteed packaging
Features:
- Number of pages: 176
- Genre: education
- Sub-genre: bilingual education
Features:
- The dust jacket if present may be marked and have considerable heavy wear or might be missing.
- The book might be ex-library copy and may have the markings and stickers associated from the library.
- The book may have some highlights/notes/underlined pages.
Features:
- Binding type: paperback
- Publisher: owlkids
- Published: 08/15/2020
$24.99
4.6
Features:
- Format: ebook
- Rental duration: lifetime
- Author: victoria fromkin; robert rodman; nina hyams
$6.69
5.0
Features:
- Incorporates new words or senses that have developed in linguistics during the past 5 years, based on recommendations from a team of experts.
- Includes increased coverage of terms arising from recent theoretical formalizations.
- Contains a separate table of abbreviations and table of symbols at the end of the book.
$32.34
Features:
- Format: ebook
- Rental duration: lifetime
- Author: hans henrich hock
Features:
- Binding type: paperback
- Publisher: harpercollins publishers inc
- Year published: 20030107
$12.26
2.0
Features:
- The authors offer a clear, succinct and basic introduction to set theory and formal logic.
- There is also a discussion of the relation between linguistics and logical analysis and between logic and natural language.
- This book is particularly intended for linguists and others interested in languages.
Features:
- Binding type: hardback
- Year published: 2019-09-03
- Number of pages: 248
Features:
- About the book.
- In this 2002 book, noam chomsky develops his thinking on the relation between language, mind and brain.
- Book synopsis.
Features:
- About the book.
- The first textbook dedicated to interactional linguistics, focusing on, and introducing, the linguistic analyses of conversational phenomena.
- Book synopsis.
Features:
- Proposes a holistic theory of the relation between the sounds, structure, and meaning of language and their relation to mind and brain.
- This work aims to offer fundamental thinking in linguistics since noam chomsky's "aspects of the theory of syntax" in 1965.
- It also provides insights on the evolution of language, thought, and communication.
1. Linguistics For Dummies [Book]
Product Details:
The fascinating, fun, and friendly way to understand the science behind human language linguistics is the scientific study of human language. linguistics students study how languages are constructed, how they function, how they affect society, and how humans learn language. from understanding other languages to teaching computers to communicate, linguistics plays a vital role in society. linguistics for dummies tracks to a typical college-level introductory linguistics course and arms you with the confidence, knowledge, and know-how to score your highest. understand the science behind human language grasp how language is constructed score your highest in college-level linguistics if you're enrolled in an introductory linguistics course or simply have a love of human language, linguistics for dummies is your one-stop resource for unlocking the science of the spoken word.
2. Language: The Cultural Tool [Book]
Product Details:
A bold and provocative study that presents language not as an innate component of the brain–as most linguists do–but as an essential tool unique to each culture worldwide. for years, the prevailing opinion among academics has been that language is embedded in our genes, existing as an innate and instinctual part of us. but linguist daniel everett argues that, like other tools, language was invented by humans and can be reinvented or lost. he shows how the evolution of different language forms–that is, different grammar–reflects how language is influenced by human societies and experiences, and how it expresses their great variety. for example, the amazonian pirahaa put words together in ways that violate our long-held under-standing of how language works, and pirahaa grammar expresses complex ideas very differently than english grammar does. drawing on the wari' language of brazil, everett explains that speakers of all languages, in constructing their stories, omit things that all members of the culture understand. in addition, everett discusses how some cultures can get by without words for numbers or counting, without verbs for "to say" or "to give," illustrating how the very nature of what's important in a language is culturally determined. combining anthropology, primatology, computer science, philosophy, linguistics, psychology, and his own pioneering–and adventurous–research with the amazonian pirahaa, and using insights from many different languages and cultures, everett gives us an unprecedented elucidation of this society-defined nature of language.
Specifications:
| Cover for "Language | The Cultural Tool" |
| Release Date | December 2012 |
| Length | 368 Pages |
| Dimensions | 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0" |
3. The Study Of Language [Book]
Product Details:
"in charles darwin's vision of the origins of language, early humans had already developed musical ability prior to language and were using it "to charm each other." this may not match the typical image that most of us have of our early ancestors as rather rough characters wearing animal skins and not very charming, but it is an interesting speculation about how language may have originated. it remains, however, a speculation. but that isn't human language. perhaps because of this absence of direct physical evidence, there has been no shortage of speculation about the origins of human speech"–
Specifications:
Reviews:
Obowiązkowa pozycja wprowadzająca do filologii angielskiej.
Intressant bok som visar hur språket är uppbyggt grammatiskt.Hanna
The short but pithy chapters where a nice surprise for someone who is used to mega chapter textbooks.bvandewalker
4. Introduction To Systemic Functional Linguistics: 2nd Edition [Book]
Product Details:
New edition of a best-selling introduction to systemic functional linguistics explores the social semiotic approach to language most closely associated with the work of michael halliday and his colleagues. an approach which views language as a strategic, meaning-making resource, systemic linguistics focuses on the analysis of authentic, everyday texts, and asks both how people use language to make meanings, and how language itself is organised to enable those meanings to be made. the book offers both an overview of systemic theory and illustrations of how systemic techniques can be applied in the analysis of everyday texts. written for students who may have little or no formal knowledge of linguistics, it covers most of the major concepts in systemic linguistics. in addition, it introduces readers to halliday's functional grammatical analysis of english clauses, and presents the essentials of the systemic analysis of cohesive patterns in text. with its systemic theory of the relationship between language and context, systemic linguistics has applications in many fields where an understanding of how language functions to transmit social structure is important, in , for example, language education, cultural studies, stylistics, and women's studies. the book provides an accessible first step into systemics for those who wish to equip themselves with the conceptual and practical tools to analyse and explain how people make meanings with each other in everyday contexts.
Specifications:
| Dimensions | 167.64 x 238.76 x 25.4mm | 702g |
| Imprint | Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd |
| Publication City/Country | London, United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Edition Statement | 2nd edition |
Reviews:
It is a very good quality and brand new book. I bought it for a very good pricezulprzulpr0
5. The Cambridge Grammar Of The English Language [Book]
Product Details:
The cambridge grammar of the english language is the first comprehensive descriptive grammar of english to appear for over fifteen years, a period which has seen immense developments in linguistic theory at all levels. the principal authors, rodney huddleston and geoffrey pullum, are among the world's leading scholars in this area, and they have benefited from the expertise of an international team of distinguished contributors in preparing what will be the definitive grammar for decades to come. each chapter comprises core definitions, detailed analyses, notes explaining alternative interpretations of difficult or controversial points, and brief notes on usage and history. numerous cross-references and an exhaustive index ensure ease of access to information. an introductory section offers guidance as to how best to use the book is provided. rodney huddleston was until recently professor in the linguistics section of the department of english at the university of queensland, australia, and has been publishing important books and papers on english grammar for thirty years. pullum is professor of linguistics at the university of california, santa cruz, and is the author of 200 articles and books on english grammar and a variety of other topics in theoretical and applied linguistics.
Specifications:
| Published | United Kingdom, 14 April 2002 |
| Writer | Rodney D. Huddleston, Geoffrey K. Pullum |
| Age Range | 0+ |
| Dimensions | 18.3 x 7.1 x 25.7 centimeters (2.19 kg) |
6. Linguistics For Language Teachers: Lessons For Classroom Practice [Book]
Product Details:
This book is an introduction to linguistics specifically tailored for teachers of second, heritage, bilingual, and world language education. the book provides language teacher candidates with enough familiarity with the major aspects of language structure and function to see how they figure in the analyses of language and language learning, as well as to explore issues related to language in society, multilingualism, and language policy. throughout the book there are opportunities to analyze language data and discuss language-related issues in various educational and social contexts. when language teachers understand the components of language and how language works, they can better identify patterns, pinpoint the underlying elements of the language they are teaching, and address the needs of their students. this book trains language teachers to be linguists by guiding them stepwise through the components of language, making linguistics accessible to language teachers, and focusing on the areas of linguistics that is most pertinent for teaching.
Specifications:
| Language | English |
| Release Date | April 2020 |
| Length | 202 Pages |
| Dimensions | 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0" |
7. Linguistics: An Introduction To Language And Communication [Book]
Product Details:
A new edition a popular introductory linguistics text, thoroughly updated and revised, with new material and new examples. this popular introductory linguistics text is unique for its integration of themes. rather than treat morphology, phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics as completely separate fields, the book shows how they interact. it provides a sound introduction to linguistic methodology while encouraging students to consider why people are intrinsically interested in language–the ultimate puzzle of the human mind. the text first treats such structural and interpretive parts of language as morphology, phonology, syntax, and semantics, then takes a cognitive perspective and covers such topics as pragmatics, psychology of language, language acquisition, and language and the brain. for this sixth edition, all chapters have been revised. new material includes updated examples, new special topics sections, and new discussions of the minimalist program, semantic minimalism, human genetic relationships and historical relationships among languages, gricean theories, experimental pragmatics, and language acquisition. the organization of the book gives instructors flexibility in designing their courses. chapters have numerous subsections with core material presented first and additional material following as special topics. the accompanying workbook supplements the text with exercises drawn from a variety of languages. the goal is to teach basic conceptual foundations of linguistics and the methods of argumentation, justification, and hypothesis testing within the field. by presenting the most fundamental linguistics concepts in detail, the text allows students to get a feeling for how real work in different areas of linguistics is done.
Specifications:
8. On Language: Chomsky's Classic Works Language And Responsibility And Reflections
Product Details:
Two of chomsky's most famous and accessible works available in an affordable and attractive edition. described by the "new york times" as "arguably the most important intellectual alive," noam chomsky is known throughout the world for his highly influential writings on language and politics. featuring two of chomsky's most popular and enduring books in one omnibus volume, "on language" contains some of the noted linguist and political critic's most informal and accessible work to date, making it an ideal introduction to his thought. in part i, "language and responsibility" (1979), chomsky presents a fascinating self-portrait of his political, moral, and linguistic thinking through a series of interviews with mitsou ronat, the noted french linguist. in part ii, "reflections on language" (1975), chomsky explores the more general implications of the study of language and offers incisive analyses of the controversies among psychologists, philosophers, and linguists over fundamental questions of language.
Reviews:
9. What Teachers Need To Know About Language [Book]
Product Details:
Rising enrollments of children for whom english is not a first language mean that every teacher is a language teacher as well as a subject area teacher. this book shows what teachers need to know about language in order to be more effective in the classroom and how teacher education might help them gain that knowledge. it focuses especially on features of academic english and gives examples of the many aspects of teaching and learning in which language is a key. research conducted since the first edition has expanded our understanding of academic language, with particular implications for teaching english learners. the new edition reflects the expanded knowledge base, derived from research on classrooms and curricula, showing the pivotal role that language plays in learning and schooling. the volume will be of particular interest to all teachers with language learners in their classroom, teacher educators, professional development specialists, administrators, principals, and all those interested in learning more about the important role played by language in helping to ensure student success in the classroom and beyond.
Reviews:
The book is excellent. It calls attention to the cognitive and social language that teachers must consider as educators. The book emphasizes that all people in the school building, regardless of position, must consider how students are developing language. Excellent book!starfruitsurf
10. The Handbook Of Computational Linguistics And Natural Language Processing [Book]
Product Details:
The major developments in this dynamic field and a detailed synopsis of the most cutting-edge research are presented in an accessible way that explains the close connection between scientific understanding of the computational properties of natural language and the creation of effective language technologies. the handbook serves as an invaluable state-of-the-art reference source for computational linguists and software engineers developing natural language applications in industrial research and development labs of software companies, as well as for graduate students and researchers in computer science, linguistics, psychology, philosophy, and mathematics, working within computational linguistics.
11. The Book Of Languages: Talk Your Way Around The World [Book]
Product Details:
But if you stop and consider it, language is not only extremely important, it's fascinating, too! use of language is one of the key things distinguishing humans from other animals, and nearly 7,000 languages are spoken around the world. the book of languagesbegins with an introduction to why language is important, how it originated and how it changes. from there, the book profiles 21 of the world's languages. each spread showcases a language's history, where it's spoken, what it looks like and how to speak a few phrases and count to ten. rounded out with sections on non-verbal and animal language, this book will stimulate readers' curiosity about the world and spark appreciation for language learning.
Reviews:
Informative and interestingmeggieship
12. An Introduction To Language With Online Study Tools 12 Months [Book]
Product Details:
An introduction to language continues to be instrumental in introducing students to the fascinating study of human language. engagingly and clearly written, it provides an overview of the key areas of linguistics from an australian perspective. this classic text is suitable for students in fields as diverse as linguistics, computer science, english, communication studies, anthropology, foreign language teaching and speech pathology. the text is divided into four sections, and chapters take you through the nature of human language, the grammatical aspects and psychology of language, finishing with language and its relation to society. chapters have also been reworked and revised to keep all syntax up-to-date and accurate. popular features from previous editions have been retained for this ninth edition including learning objectives and margin definitions in each chapter, along with summary tables inside the covers, which assist you to learn core concepts and terminology.gy.
Specifications:
| Binding | Hybrid |
Reviews:
I needed this for my linguistics course. It is very easy to read. I love the indent comments.Lynda
This book really helped me at uniUniperson
13. A Dictionary Of Linguistics And Phonetics [Book]
Product Details:
Completely revised and updated in its fifth edition, a dictionary of linguistics and phonetics is the standard single-volume reference for its field. incorporates new words or senses that have developed in linguistics during the past 5 years, based on recommendations from a team of experts. includes increased coverage of terms arising from recent theoretical formalizations. contains a separate table of abbreviations and table of symbols at the end of the book. remains the standard single-volume reference for the field of linguistics and phonetics. fifth edition now includes more than 5,000 terms.
Specifications:
| Language | English |
| Release Date | January 1997 |
| Length | 448 Pages |
| Dimensions | 9.0" x 5.9" x 9.1" |
Reviews:
Up to date. Thorough.absolutely_gorgeous
14. Principles Of Historical Linguistics [Book]
Product Details:
Historical linguistic theory and practice contains a great number of different 'layers' which have been accepted in the course of time and have acquired a permanency of their own. these range from neogrammarian conceptualizations of sound change and analogy to present-day ideas on rule change and language mixture. to get a full grasp of the principles of historical linguistics it is therefore necessary to understand the nature and justifications (or shortcomings) of each of these 'layers', not just to look for a single 'overarching' theory. the major purpose of the book is to provide in up-to-date form such an understanding of the principles of historical linguistics and the related fields of comparative linguistics and linguistic reconstruction. in addition, the book provides a very broad exemplification of the principles of historical linguistics.
15. The Power Of Babel: A Natural History Of Language [Book]
Product Details:
There are approximately six thousand languages on earth today, each a descendant of the tongue first spoken by homo sapiens some 150,000 years ago. while laying out how languages mix and mutate over time, linguistics professor john mcwhorter reminds us of the variety within the species that speaks them, and argues that, contrary to popular perception, language is not immutable and hidebound, but a living, dynamic entity that adapts itself to an ever-changing human environment. full of humor and imaginative insight, the power of babel draws its illustrative examples from languages around the world, including pidgins, creoles, and nonstandard dialects.
Reviews:
Excellent for beginning interest in languagesheyz32
The Power of Babel explores the origins of the world's languages in true John McWhorter style. For a topic (linguistics) that could easily be presented in a boring and stale way, McWhorter is compelling and witty in his presentation and style. He always presents other's viewpoints and then explains why he believes his viewpoint. If you are a "word freak," McWhorter's works are for you.thekingsacademy
John M. realiza en este libro un estudio de las lenguas y su origen desde que son dialectos de otras lenguas. Segn M., las lenguas pasan por un periodo en que son dialectos, despus son lenguas criollas y, finalmente, lenguas con todo el poder que eso significa (vocabulario propio, distinta gramtica, hablantes, etc.). En su camino, la lengua pasar tambin por periodos de incomprensin y minusvaloracin. M. aporta ejemplos de diferentes lenguas, siendo sus favoritas los dialectos del latn y el "chino" y sus dialectos.jos_galis
16. Logic In Linguistics [Book]
Product Details:
An elementary introduction to formal logic, particularly intended for linguists and others interested in languages. concepts and theories developed within formal logic for the study of artificial languages have for some time been fruitfully applied to the study of natural languages and some knowledge of them is necessary for students of linguists (especially semantics). with this need in mind the authors offer a clear, succinct and basic introduction to set theory, inference, propositional and predicate logic, deduction, modal and intensional logic, and various concomitant extensions of these. there is a discussion too of the relation between linguistics and logical analysis and between logic and natural language. the authors see increasing scope for co-operation between logicians and linguistics in studying the structure of language, and it is the overall aim of the book to promote this co-operation.
Specifications:
| Language | English |
| Release Date | August 2011 |
| Length | 190 Pages |
| Dimensions | 0.4" x 7.4" x 9.7" |
Reviews:
17. A Course In Semantics [Book]
Product Details:
An introductory text in linguistic semantics, uniquely balancing empirical coverage and formalism with development of intuition and methodology.this introductory textbook in linguistic semantics for undergraduates features a unique balance between empirical coverage and formalism on the one hand and development of intuition and methodology on the other. it will equip students to form intuitions about a set of data, explain how well an analysis of the data accords with their intuitions, and extend the analysis or seek an alternative. no prior knowledge of linguistics is required. after mastering the material, students will be able to tackle some of the most difficult questions in the field even if they have never taken a linguistics course before.after introducing such concepts as truth conditions and compositionality, the book presents a basic symbolic logic with negation, conjunction, and generalized quantifiers, to serve as the basis for translation throughout the book. it then develops a detailed compositional semantics, covering quantification (scope and binding), adverbial modification, relative clauses, event semantics, tense and aspect, as well as pragmatic phenomena, notably deictic pronouns and narrative progression.a course in semantics offers a large and diverse set of exercises, interspersed throughout the text; those labeled “important practice and looking ahead” prepare students for material to come; those labeled “thinking about ” invite students to think beyond the content of the book.
Specifications:
| Imprint | The MIT Press |
| Pub date | 03 Sep 2019 |
| DEWEY edition | 23 |
| Language | English |
| Spine width | 17mm |
18. On Nature And Language By Noam Chomsky
Product Details:
In on nature and language noam chomsky develops his thinking on the relation between language, mind and brain, integrating current research in linguistics into the burgeoning field of neuroscience. this 2002 volume begins with a lucid introduction by the editors adriana belletti and luigi rizzi. this is followed by some of chomsky's writings on these themes, together with a penetrating interview in which chomsky provides the clearest and most elegant introduction to current theory available. it should make his minimalist program accessible to all. the volume concludes with an essay on the role of intellectuals in society and government. nature and language is a significant landmark in the development of linguistic theory. it will be welcomed by students and researchers in theoretical linguistics, neurolinguistics, cognitive science and politics, as well as anyone interested in the development of chomsky's thought.
Specifications:
| Language | English |
| Release Date | October 2002 |
| Length | 218 Pages |
| Dimensions | 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.7" |
19. Interactional Linguistics: Studying Language In Social Interaction [Book]
Product Details:
The first textbook dedicated to interactional linguistics, focusing on linguistic analyses of conversational phenomena, this introduction provides an overview of the theory and methodology of interactional linguistics. reviewing recent findings on linguistic practices used in turn construction and turn taking, repair, action formation, ascription, and sequence and topic organization, the book examines the way that linguistic units of varying size – sentences, clauses, phrases, clause combinations, and particles – are mobilized for the implementation of specific actions in talk-in-interaction. a final chapter discusses the implications of an interactional perspective for our understanding of language as well as its variation, diversity, and universality. supplementary online chapters explore additional topics such as the linguistic organization of preference, stance, footing, and storytelling, as well as the use of prosody and phonetics, and further practices with language. featuring summary boxes and transcripts from recordings of everyday conversation, this is an essential resource for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses on language in social interaction.
Specifications:
| Imprint | Cambridge University Press |
| Pub date | 21 Dec 2017 |
| DEWEY edition | 23 |
| Language | English |
| Spine width | 28mm |
20. Foundations Of Language: Brain, Meaning, Grammar, Evolution [Book]
Product Details:
Already hailed as a masterpiece, foundations of language offers a brilliant overhaul of the last thirty-five years of research in generative linguistics and related fields. "few books really deserve the cliché 'this should be read by every researcher in the field, '" writes steven pinker, author of the language instinct, "but ray jackendoff's foundations of language does." foundations of language offers a radically new understanding of how language, the brain, and perception intermesh. the book renews the promise of early generative linguistics: that language can be a valuable entree into understanding the human mind and brain. the approach is remarkably interdisciplinary. behind its innovations is jackendoff's fundamental proposal that the creativity of language derives from multiple parallel generative systems linked by interface components. this shift in basic architecture makes possible a radical reconception of mental grammar and how it is learned. as a consequence, jackendoff is able to reintegrate linguistics with philosophy of mind, cognitive and developmental psychology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and computational linguistics. among the major topics treated are language processing, the relation of language to perception, the innateness of language, and the evolution of the language capacity, as well as more standard issues inlinguistic theory such as the roles of syntax and the lexicon. in addition, jackendoff offers a sophisticated theory of semantics that incorporates insights from philosophy of language, logic and formal semantics, lexical semantics of various stripes, cognitive grammar, psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic approaches, and the author's own conceptual semantics. here then is the most fundamental contribution to linguistic theory in over three decades.
Specifications:
| Language | English |
| Release Date | April 1986 |
| Length | 210 Pages |
| Dimensions | 9.6" x 6.1" x 9.1" |
| Grade Range | Postsecondary |
