This introductory textbook provides readers with a foundation in methods
for analysing and understanding language from various theoretical
perspectives within linguistics and language studies. Its novel approach
introduces systemic functional linguistics, text and discourse analysis,
and formal approaches to linguistics. It demonstrates applications of
these approaches to reveal how we use language in society, how our
brains process language, and how we learn language. Topics include
phonetics, phonology, conversation analysis, morphology, semantics,
functional and formal syntax, text linguistics, genre analysis,
evaluative lexis in text, multimodal representations of meaning,
language change and variation, animals and language, the brain and
language, and first and second language development/acquisition. The
main language focused on is English, while other languages are also
drawn on to illustrate the principles, models and theories. Learning
outcomes, exercises (with answer key), ideas for project work, and
questions for reflection are provided throughout. A final chapter
gathers explanations of various fields of practice within linguistics,
written by linguists from around the world, including David Crystal
(Clinical Linguistics), Frances Christie (Educational Linguistics), and
Malcolm Coulthard (Forensic Linguistics). An Introduction to
Linguistics and Language Studies offers an array of analytical tools
for undergraduate students of language, communication, and education,
and provides an overview of the field for those interested in further
study in linguistics and applied language studies. Readers will come
away with a heightened sensitivity to and appreciation of their own and
other's use of language for creating meaning and for interaction.
