What Is This Thing Called Language?

Written by eminent linguist David Nunan, this concise text immerses readers in the complex, curious and continually evolving phenomenon that is at the centre of everything we do: language. It can be fascinating, puzzling and entertaining - and sometimes all of these at the same time. Featuring entertaining anecdotes and interesting examples throughout, this book introduces readers to the foundations of language, namely its sounds, words and grammar, before illustrating how language is used in different ways in a variety of contexts. Fully updated and revised for the second edition, it covers a wide range of topics, including language variation and culture, second language acquisition and bilingualism.Students, teachers and non-specialists alike will enjoy this engaging and 'un-put-down-able' introduction to language and linguistics. Assuming no prior knowledge of applied or theoretical linguistics, it will appeal to anyone with an interest in language. New to this Edition:- Illustrated with examples taken from a range of different languages- New content on language and culture, language variation, second language acquisition, bilingualism and the impact of globalization on language use

List of Tables and Figures Preface Acknowledgements Introduction to the First Edition: The Stuff that Surrounds Us Introduction to the Second Edition: A Personal Account What is this Thing Called Language? The Sound System The Lexical System The Grammatical System Doing Things with Spoken Language Doing Things with Written Language First and Second Language Acquisition Language at Play Language, Culture and Identity Language in a Global Context Postscript Books to Read on a Long Plane Flight Key Figures Glossary References Author Index Subject Index.