Table of Contents

1. Describing language 2. Toolkit for language analysis 3. Analysing texts and discourses 4. Language change 5. Language acquisition and development 6. Language variation 7. Language in use Bibliography Glossary Index

Promotional Information

A comprehensive guide to the nature of language and an introduction to linguistic analysis.

About the Author

Howard Jackson is Professor Emeritus of English Language and Linguistics at Birmingham City University, UK. Peter Stockwell is Professor of Literary Linguistics at the University of Nottingham, UK.

Reviews

It's difficult to imagine a more helpful introductory book in the field of language study. The topics have been well chosen and each one is broken down using graspable examples and clutter-free descriptions. Some of the analysis is deceptively detailed, but the terminology never gets in the way of the explanation. For a clear, engaging and straightforward introduction to how people study language, look no further.
*Steven Jones, Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Education, The University of Manchester, UK*

"This fully revised edition of An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language is a highly accessible and authoritative introduction to the analysis of language. While assuming no specialist knowledge, the book systematically sets out the key issues in English language linguistics to offer students a comprehensive guide to the field. Within its chapters the reader will find clear and well-written accounts of the ways language is studied, how it is acquired and learnt, and it changes over time and varies between different social groups, and how it is used in a range of contexts. There are review exercises, case studies, copious examples and a useful glossary, all of which make the book extremely useful to anyone beginning the study of language."
*Ken Hyland, Director, Centre for Applied English Studies and Chair of Applied Linguistics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong*

‘Jackson and Stockwell's An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language is a thorough, comprehensive, and accessibly written introduction to English language and linguistics. A particular strength of the book is the wide range of linguistic issues it discusses and the examples that are provided to illustrate them. The activities, projects and glossary make this book particularly useable.'
*Brian Paltridge, Professor of TESOL, University of Sydney, Australia *

"Students and lecturers alike will welcome the second edition of Jackson & Stockwell's An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language. All essential areas of linguistics are outlined with each chapter offering ideas for activities, topics and further reading. Importantly, a new chapter devoted to texts and discourses introduces students to key notions such as register, function, conversation analysis, coherence & cohesion. It is particularly laudable that the chapter also takes into account the new interest in linguistics into multimodal texts."
*Monika Bednarek, Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Sydney, Australia*

"Few introductory linguistics textbooks are as comprehensive as this one. Accessible, informative and packed full of practical activities and ideas for projects, this book is a must-read for all students new to the study of language."
*Dan McIntyre, University of Huddersfield, UK*

"Aiming at the introductory level, An Introduction to the Nature and Functions of Language (now in a fully revised 2nd edition) provides a state-of-the-art survey of the core concepts and key terms in language & linguistics. It helps students gain expertise and analytical skills in various branches of the discipline, offering numerous valuable didactic tools like study questions, chapter summaries, a comprehensive glossary as well as a useful bibliography. This book is among the most accessible and entertaining introductions for students of language and linguistics currently available. I highly recommend it both as a coursebook and for self-study purposes."
*Reinhard Heuberger, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Innsbruck, Austria*

‘This is an efficient introduction to the subject matter of linguistics, written in a very accessible style, by authors who are current on a wide range of topics. I am especially impressed by Jackson & Stockwell's informative discussions of the emergence and spread of English, in and out of England, by their accounts of language acquisition and use, and by their effort to integrate the formal, social, and psychological aspects of language in ways that should stimulate students to develop a global interest in the study of language. The "activities" that conclude the chapters are stimulating, prompting students to think practically about the contents of their course.'
*Salikoko S. Mufwene, The Frank J. McLoraine Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics and the College, The University of Chicago, USA*

"Assuming no prior knowledge, this book is an introductory textbook designed for beginners and those interested in the field of linguistics in general. It offers an accessible overview of the subject, covering some of the major subfields of linguistics in an engaging and informative manner, without overwhelming the reader with technical terms.This newest edition of the text comprises seven chapters, all of which are written in extremely readable prose and cover the most important basic concepts in their fields. The final section of each chapter offers a number of activities, which build on the information presented in each chapter and strengthens the reader's understanding. They go far beyond simple exercises, thereby challenging students to perform linguistically-based tasks. The book also includes a further reading section in each chapter, and a glossary, all of which are very complete and very useful. Jackson and Stockwell's book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the nature and functions of language and will be welcomed by both lecturers and students."
*Mariangela Spinillo, Linguistics Coordinator and Lecturer in Linguistics, King's College London, UK *