Key features

Designed for beginners in English language and linguistics, this best-selling textbook provides a lively introduction to the study of language. Unrivalled in its popularity, and now its its third edition, The Study of Language is quite simply the best introduction to the field available today.

• Concise and clearly written, perfect for readers approaching the study of language for the first time
• A wide range of key topics are explored, such as
  • how conversation works, how children learn language
  • why women and men speak differently
  • how language varies between regions and social groups
• Introduces the analysis of the key elements of language - sounds, words, structures and meanings
• Additional online resources are provided, enhancing and further developing the topics raised in the textbook