Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication by Adrian Akmajian

Linguistics: ?the scientific study of human language?by Anonymous

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December 01, 2003: This textbook is an introduction to linguistics, an academic field dedicated exclusively to the study of various aspects of human language: morphology, phonetics, phonology, semantics and syntax, language variation, language change and pragmatics, sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics. It explores what languages are like, how they are analyzed, how they change, how they are acquired and taught, how they differ from culture to culture and how social relations are reflected in languages. In addition, it helps students in the field to explore, develop and to strengthen research and analytical skills in all pursued areas of the field. The chapters regarding structure of language are well developed and well presented. For students learning linguistics, the first 8 chapters are necessary to learn and very important to help them to teach grammar. There is a workbook that accompanies the text and together with the exercises offered at the end of each chapter would make native speakers to logically follow and understand concepts. NEVERTHELESS, there are some shortcomings with regards to the second part of the text. Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12 could not reconcile on the need for emphasis on the theoretical perspectives discussed in the chapters. The phrase ?but more research is needed? and ?most of all the results of these researches were done with animals and not humans?, gives me an indication of a backdrop leading to ineffective information. We cannot rely on the claims presented on the second part of this text because it provides us with assumptions not facts. In sum, more research is needed with regards to the second part of the book.