A short introduction to the study of language /
Thompson, Ellen,1967-author.
"A Short Introduction to the Study of Language provides an accessible and up-to-date invitation to key concepts of modern language study. Readers gain awareness of the scientific approach to language through examination of varied topics of current research interest. The book explores the following issues: How are young children, who have limited general cognitive capability, able to automatically pick up and use any language that is in their environment, quickly, easily and without effort? Do other animals have language - what about the complex communication systems of apes, bees and cephalods? What happens when an individual is raised in an environment in which they are not exposed to language? Are some languages simpler than others - do some languages lack grammar? Is English getting worse over time, and is there one "correct" way to speak English?"--
Includes bibliographical references.
"A Short Introduction to the Study of Language provides an accessible and up-to-date invitation to key concepts of modern language study. Readers gain awareness of the scientific approach to language through examination of varied topics of current research interest. The book explores the following issues: How are young children, who have limited general cognitive capability, able to automatically pick up and use any language that is in their environment, quickly, easily and without effort? Do other animals have language - what about the complex communication systems of apes, bees and cephalods? What happens when an individual is raised in an environment in which they are not exposed to language? Are some languages simpler than others - do some languages lack grammar? Is English getting worse over time, and is there one "correct" way to speak English?"--
What is language? -- Language and other animal communication systems -- Teaching human language to apes -- Language learning -- Experiments in language acquisition -- Abnormal language -- Bilingualism -- Are there primitive languages? -- Non-standard dialects?
Language and languages
Languages, Modern
Language acquisition.
Language acquisition.
Language and languages
Languages, Modern
Short introduction to the study of language