Language: The Basics

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Language: The Basicsprovides a concise introduction to the study of language. Written in an engaging and entertaining style, it encourages the reader to think about the way language works. New features include:

* a chapter on 'Language in Use' which introduces pragmatics, metaphor, speech and writing and discourse analysis
* a section on sign language
* a glossary of key terms
* an expanded further reading section
Language: the Basicsprovides an overview for students and anyone who's ever been accused of splitting an infinitive.

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About the author (1999)

One of the most celebrated linguists of his time, R. L. Trask was a brilliant lecturer and the author of many popular works, including "The Penguin Guide to Punctuation" and "The Penguin Dictionary of English Grammar". Born in New York State in 1944, he lived in England after 1970, and was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex until his death in 2004.

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