What is Linguistics? How do languages work? Why is this important?
Answering these questions and more, Linguistics: An Introduction covers all the key topics that you will need in your study of language and linguistics. Over 17 chapters, William McGregor outlines the core ideas and approaches in the field, tracing their development and discussing the most recent trends. Using examples from a wide range of languages and contexts from around the world, this book assumes no prior knowledge of linguistics and contains a host of pedagogic features, including key terms, discussion questions, and exercises, to fully support your learning.
Fully revised and updated, this third edition now includes:
- A new chapter on corpus linguistics
- New topics, including theories of syntax, text typology and the evolution of languages
- New 'Research Methods' sections at the end of each chapter
- Updated examples drawn from a variety of global perspectives and contexts, ranging from North America to East Asia
With a comprehensive companion website featuring additional questions, reading materials, and videos, alongside an online instructor guide, which includes lecture slides, suggested course outlines and structures, and an answer key, this is your essential introduction to the study of linguistics.

William B. McGregor is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. He has published over a dozen books, including Semiotic Grammar (OUP, 1997) and The Languages of the Kimberly, Western Australia (Routledge, 2004). He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities.

List of Maps
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and Conventions
1. Introduction
Part I: Language: System and Structure
2. Sounds of Language: Phonetics and Phonology
3. Structure of Words: Morphology
4. Lexicon
5. Structure of Sentences: Syntax
6. Meaning
Part II: Language in Use
7. Sociolinguistics: Language in its Social Context
8. Text and Discourse
9. Investigating Language and Use: Corpus Linguistics
Part III: Language: A Human Phenomenon
10. Language in its Biological Context
11. Psycholinguistics: Language, the Mind and the Brain
12. Language Learning
Part IV: Language: Uniformity and Diversity
13. Sign Languages
14. Writing
15. Unity and Diversity of Language Structure
16. Language Change
17. Languages of the World
Glossary
References
Index