Synopses & Reviews
How does the English language work? If you are interested in discovering the answer to this question, then An Introduction to English Language is the ideal place to start. Written in a clear, lively, and easy-to-follow style, this introductory textbook is based around three core topics of linguistic study:
WORD: English words, how they fit into sentences, their internal structure, their meaning and how they make up vocabularies for various purposes.
SOUND: the sound systems of English, its phonetics and phonology, and English intonation and stress patterns.
SENTENCE: English sentence structure and introductory English grammar.
Packed with classroom tested examples and graded exercises, the third edition of this popular book features:
- a multimedia companion website , containing Powerpoint slides, mini-lectures, quizzes and downloadable audio files to aid study
- new material on language variation and change, including more examples of regional dialects, and extra material on New Englishes
- a new introduction to linguistics as a subject, familiarizing students with key issues and topics.
Carefully designed as a course-book for either group or individual study, An Introduction to English Language remains an essential text for students and teachers of English language and introductory linguistics.
Review
Praise for previous editions:
"A book I would recommend to Departments of English world-wide. Kuiper and Allan's book...deals with the bare bones of English structure - its sound system, its lexicon and its syntactic structure. The book...focuses practically and squarely on the language at hand, and it eschews the obfuscation of current linguistic squabbles and the arcanity of some of those representations. That said, however, it does no disservice whatsoever to the sophistication and findings of modern linguistic science." - Professor Dennis Preston, Michigan State University, USA
"Students will appreciate the detailed but clear discussion of introductory material on the structure of English and will also find the extensive, carefully graded exercises exceptionally helpful." - David Deterding, University of Brunei, Darrussalam
Review
Praise for previous editions:
A book I would recommend to Departments of English world-wide. Kuiper and Allan's book...deals with the bare bones of English structure - its sound system, its lexicon and its syntactic structure. The book...focuses practically and squarely on the language at hand, and it eschews the obfuscation of current linguistic squabbles and the arcanity of some of those representations. That said, however, it does no disservice whatsoever to the sophistication and findings of modern linguistic science.” Professor Dennis Preston, Michigan State University, USA
Students will appreciate the detailed but clear discussion of introductory material on the structure of English and will also find the extensive, carefully graded exercises exceptionally helpful.” David Deterding, University of Brunei, Darrussalam
Synopsis
This successful introductory coursebook for students and teachers of English presupposes no prior knowledge of the sounds, words, sentences and meanings of English. The third edition features more on the varieties of English and now has a companion website containing quizzes, mp3 audio clips and Powerpoint movie lectures to aid study.
Synopsis
How does the English language work? If you are interested in discovering the answer to this question, then An Introduction to English Language is the ideal place to start. Written in a clear, lively, and easy-to-follow style, this introductory textbook is based around three core topics of linguistic study:
WORD: English words, how they fit into sentences, their internal structure, their meaning and how they make up vocabularies for various purposes.
SOUND: the sound systems of English, its phonetics and phonology, and English intonation and stress patterns.
SENTENCE: English sentence structure and introductory English grammar.
Packed with classroom tested examples and graded exercises, the third edition of this popular book features:
Carefully designed as a course-book for either group or individual study, An Introduction to English Language remains an essential text for students and teachers of English language and introductory linguistics.
About the Author
KOENRAAD KUIPER is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. The late W. SCOTT ALLAN was sometime Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Language Studies and Linguistics at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Table of Contents
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and Symbols
The International Phonetic Alphabet
Introduction: What is a Language?
PART I: WORDS
The Form and Function of Words
Word Meanings and Vocabularies
PART II: SOUNDS
Speech Sounds
The Phonology of English
Syllables and Suprasegmentals
PART III: SENTENCES
The Structure of Simple Sentences
Complex Syntax
Further Exercises
Glossary
Further Reading
Electronic Resources
Answers to Exercises
Index