How to Study Linguistics

Palgrave Study Guides: Literature

by Geoffrey Finch

This book provides an ideal introduction to those new to the subject of linguistics. It assumes no prior knowledge and is a refreshingly practical and clear guide to an often complex subject many find daunting. The book covers all the core topics of linguistic study, with chapters discussing strategies for studying phonology, syntax and semantics, as well as branches of linguistics such as sociolinguistics, stylistics and psycholinguistics.

Genres: Linguistics, Research, Academic

253 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 1999

About the author

Geoffrey Finch has taught English at universities in New Zealand and Nigeria and is Senior Lecturer in Humanities at Anglia Polytechnic University, UK, where he lectures and writes on both language and literature.

Reviews

[محمد حسين ضاحي · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author starts off with a polemically invaluable advice - "beware of all books on linguistics". Yet, this book is very interesting in its scope and organisation, it's even inspiring.

I read selected chapters from it during my preliminary-Master's diploma to get some overall pattern of some subjects I was studying then; I wanted to know how much I know, and consequently, I miss from the big picture, and to locate the disciplines of sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and stylistics within the frame of linguistics.

Then I started reading it as is shown here intersecting with other readings to get well directed as to the project I am going to carry out for MA. It has been enlightening and helpful. It gave me hope as to the possibility that I could do it especially with topics such as semantics, pragmatics and x-bar syntax. I discovered that I already knew much, and that all I wanted is a point of order, a moment of scrutiny or pondering to organize what I know and see where it crosses with what I don't and more importantly what I need to know.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book from the library because I needed help in my Intro. to Linguistics class. I found it extremely helpful in helping me to see the big picture of linguistics. Reading the class textbook was not enough for me. I would quickly get distracted and alot of the detail it presented seemed sort of random without big picture frames. So overall, in contrast with the other text Finch's book was a refresher.

[Kei · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had fun with this. Ended up feeding into the wondering if math is the baseline talent for me that feeds into having talent in so many other things, as language can (as music) be linked to mathematical formulae so adequately....

[Doaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is for people who start study linguistics . very simple and helpful . The writer begin with two important advice : 1, be aware of all linguistics books you read . 2, Learn to think linguistically .

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