Presupposing no prior knowledge of linguistics, The Handbook of Linguisticsis the ideal resource for people who want to learn about the subject and its subdisciplines.

Written by globally recognized leading figures, this Handbookprovides a comprehensive and accessible account of the field of linguistics. It begins with a general overview that considers the origins of language, frames the discipline within its historical context, and looks at how linguists acquire new data. It then turns to the traditional subdisciplines of linguistics.

This authoritative volume provides a broad yet detailed picture of what is known about language today.

In this first paperback edition of the $124.95 cloth edition, Aronoff (linguistics, State U. of New York at Stony Brook) and Rees-Miller (modern languages, Marietta College, Ohio) preface 32 contributed essays serving as an accessible introduction to a field that "... has not made many inroads into educated public discourse." Coverage includes the origins of language, first and second language acquisition, multilingualism, linguistics and literature, sign languages, neurolinguistics, computational linguistics, forensic linguistics, and translation. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

"Linguistics has long been in need of a collection that summarizes the nature of the field and its various aspects - something at once accessible enough to recommend to non-linguists and substantive enough to give real answers to their questions. Aronoff and Rees-Miller have given us just that, and a number of the surveys they have included will be informative even for specialists. This book should do a major service for the relations between linguists and their colleagues, and among various flavors of linguist as well." Stephen R. Anderson, Yale University

"The Blackwell Handbookis a considerable achievement. It addresses general readers, students of linguistics and specialists in linguistic sub-disciplines. It shows both the fluidity of the subject ... and also the large and growing areas of common interest and importance. Students of literature, psychology and philosophy could read many of these chapters with great profit, and it is to be hoped that there will be frequent updatings and further editions as research and understanding advance." Jonathan Katz, Times Literary Supplement

"How do Aronoff and Rees-Miller approach the task of enlightenment (or perhaps even proselytization)? Successfully, in my opinion, through a judicious combination of reports on theoretical and applied domains, of items of general and more specialized interest, of traditional and newly-relevant sub-areas, and through a selection of highly competent experts with excellent comunicative skills... If given the broad exposure it deserves, this volume will clearly satisfy its announced goal of permitting the insertion of linguistics topics into educated public discourse. As a result, the editors and authors are to be congratulated for extending this service to the discipline and to the public in general."Canadian Journal of Linguistics

Presupposing no prior knowledge of linguistics,The Handbook of Linguisticsis the ideal resource for people who want to learn about the subject and its subdisciplines.

Mark Aronoffis Professor of Linguistics and Associate Provost at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is the author of several books and numerous technical articles on linguistic morphology. Since 1995, he has served as Editor of Language, the journal of the Linguistic Society of America.

Janie Rees-Milleris Chair of the Modern Languages Department and Director of the English as a Second Language Program at Marietta College, Ohio. She has taught English as a second or foreign language for twenty years in the Middle East, England, and the United States. Her research interests include applied linguistics, second language acquisition and pedagogy, and language contact between Native American languages and English.

List of Contributors.

Preface.

1. Origins of