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Whatever you do and wherever you go, you use language to interact. This text explains what human language is and how it works, giving you a look into the multiple fascinating and surprising facets of this uniquely human trait. It offers many opportunities to ask your own questions and explore the language in use all around you. Key Features Shorter text – Chapter 12, “Writing,” moved to the website. Per reviewers, teachers don’t have time to teach this chapter but it’s very valuable information so we moved it to the website. Additional “Try It Yourself” opportunities encourage students to apply what has just been discussed and study how it works. New boxes on special topics such as “McSleep Inn or Out? – Case McDonalds brought against a new chain of hotels wanting to use the name McSleep, and “Jeans and Disco” – interesting etymologies of these terms, and “Vocal Cord and Voicing” – how they work in humans. “For Practice” sets in key chapters assist students in comprehending important concepts and prompt them to tackle more rigorous questions. Sections of exercises include “Practice Exercises,” “Based on English,” and “Especially for Educators and Future Teachers” and the end-of-chapter review sections. “What Do You Think?” questions get students thinking about language in daily life; “What Do you Think? Revisited” show how the chapter answers these questions. “Try It Yourself” sections encourage students to apply what has just been discussed and study how it works. Coverage of print and Internet resources assists both the beginning and the advanced linguistics student. “Especially for Educators and Future Teachers” sections highlight the material future educators need. Table of Contents Part I: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES Languages and Linguistics Words and Their Parts: Lexicon and Morphology The Sounds of Languages: Phonetics Sound Systems of Language: Phonology The Structure and Function of Phrases and Sentences: Syntax The Study of Meaning: Semantics Language Universals and Language Typology Part II: LANGUAGE USE Information Structure and Pragmatics Speech Acts and Conversation Language Variation across Situations of Use: Registers and Styles Language Variation among Social Groups: Dialects Part III: LANGUAGE CHANGE, LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION Language Change over Time: Historical Linguistics Historical Development in English Acquiring First and Second Languages Glossary Answers to Exercises for Practice Index Index of Languages Index of Internet Sites Index of Videos Credits