This book, originally published in 1987, considers how the science of linguistics creates its own objects of study.

Part 1: Views of Language 1. The Mapping and Reality-Construction Views of Language 2. Subject-Matter Views Part 2: Saying Things: Conceptual Events 3. Saying Things 4. Conceptual Events and Real-World Situations 5. The Problem of Translation Part 3: Conceptual Worlds 6. Conceptual Elements 7. Ways of Talking About Things 8. Conceptual Worlds Part 4: Further Implications 9. The Question of the Relation Between Language and Thought 10. The Question of Individual Linguistic Competence