Linguistics For Dummies

by Rose-Marie Dechaine, Strang Burton, Eric Vatikiotis-Bateson

The fascinating, fun, and friendly way to understand the science behind human language Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics students study how languages are constructed, how they function, how they affect society, and how humans learn language. From understanding other languages to teaching computers to communicate, linguistics plays a vital role in society. Linguistics For Dummies tracks to a typical college-level introductory linguistics course and arms you with the confidence, knowledge, and know-how to score your highest. If you're enrolled in an introductory linguistics course or simply have a love of human language, Linguistics For Dummies is your one-stop resource for unlocking the science of the spoken word.

Genres: Linguistics, Language, Nonfiction, Academic, Read For School, Textbooks

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read and very interesting and entertaining. It's a good overview of linguistics which is far broader than I had even imagined. The authors have a good sense of humor and the book is very fast paced.

The down side, of course, is that it is an overview. There were brief sections on great topics and I would want to learn more, but then I would turn the page and we were off and running onto another topic. So, I need to read more detailed books on the branches of linguistics that I am interested in.

Did learn a few little tid-bits that I could tell other people about, especially my husband at the breakfast table.

[Chris Jaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because I've always had an interest in language families. It turns out that's apparently the only thing about linguistics that I find interesting.

If I were to rate this book solely by how much I liked it and how much I got out of it, I'd give it less than three stars. That wouldn't really be fair, as it's not that this is a bad book, but that it isn't a book for me. But I really didn't get much out of it, so I can't give it more than three stars.

[Maitha Shuhail]

I find myself going back to this book every holiday, and I just found it buried under stacks of college papers with only three chapters left.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much! Excellent introduction to all the aspects of linguistics. Very well organized- easy and fun to read. Good job in clearing up a lot of misconceptions. As someone who speaks 7 languages and wants to learn more, I can tell how I acquired some earlier and easier than others, as well as to what degree I can speak and write them. Yes, I am a very verbal person.

[Hodeys · Rating 3 out of 5]

خود کتاب خیلی خوب بود و مطالب رو خیلی خوب توضیح داده بود. یکم در ترجمه اگر در فصل های اول اصطلاحات انگلیسی رو در پانوشت میذاشتند به نظرم بهتر بود. در کل لذت بردم و کتاب خوبی بود.

[torque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good introduction to linguistics for the layman.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didnt include differing viewpoints on langusge studies from a sign language pov.

[CORSAK fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the linguistics book that really changed my life by introducing me to language reclamation, revitalization, and documentation. As a high schooler, I was intrigued by a world I knew so little about. I still don't know everything I want to, but I'm determined to learn as much as I can and help others along the way through language, a mission I may not have had until years later without the specific details mentioned here. This book helped me find my mission as a linguist. I had fun jumping around chapters when I first got it years ago, but I had a blast reading the whole thing cover-to-cover.

My favorite chapters, of course, were the ones about pragmatics and language birth, death, and documentation. All chapters here are fun, and I think most folks, whether linguists or linguistics students or those outside the field, will enjoy.

It took me 9 years to realize pragmaticists specialize in pragmatics and that the term isn't pragmatician, which I also have this book to thank for.

[Arash Amani]

This book has given me a good knowledge of linguistics science. It has told me that all languages all over the world have the potential to produce new words and non of them are better than the others.

[Connor Dolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting topics. Maybe the middle chapters went on a bit too long.

Regardless, the language family trees were pretty cool, and overall this helped my awareness of mechanics of language and grammar.

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! So much knowledge! And I'm so ready to continue learning. I want to see if I can find books written by the authors.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters were really interesting, such as the ones about language families and linguistic typology, and others not so much, but I did learn many new things from all of them.

[Obione_TdG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alcuni capitoli molto migliori di altri, troppa attenzione forse agli aspetti fonetici e fonologici in proporzione.

[lesbianix · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I expected something a bit different, most of the contests of the book I learned in highschool. Good for people who genuinely don't know anything about linguistics though.

[Brian Cham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my university course on linguistics. It was quite easy to follow and written as a succinct summary. Whether it inspires you will depend on the section.