Includes index

Content:The nature of language: Introduction -- The notion of a language -- Language as a hierarchical system -- Investigating language -- The sounds of language: Introduction -- Phonetic description of sounds -- Segmental phonology -- Prosody -- Sentence and word structure: Introduction -- Notions of grammar -- Sentence structure -- The quirk grammar -- Word structure -- Meaning: Introduction -- Word meaning -- Words in context -- The role of world knowledge -- Writing systems: The development of writing systems -- The pattern of english spelling -- Face-to-face interaction: Introduction -- Non-verbal communication -- Conversation management -- Observing and transcribing conversation -- Discourse and text: Introduction -- Differences between speech and writing -- Spoken language -- The analysis of written language.