We use language everyday in every aspect of our lives, whether at school, work, or home, with friends, colleagues or family. The ability to use language is so important that it defines what makes us human. Yet what is language? And how does it work? In this introduction to language, Peter Sharpe answers a series of questions about language to show its inner workings. Drawing on expertise from many disciplines, he examines the origins of language, how language produces meaning, the variation of language across cultures, how language is used in society, and whether or not there is a "correct" way to use language. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and signposts for further reading make this the essential introduction to language for inquisitive readers and undergraduates.
Introduction; 1. What are the origins of language?; 2. Is language exclusive to humans?; 3. Why do languages change?; 4. How does language vary across cultures?; 5. Where does Noam Chomsky fit into linguistics?; 6. How scientific can linguistic theory be?; 7. What makes semantics difficult?; 8. The power of symbols?; 9. How is language represented in the mind?; Bibliography; Index.
