This best-selling textbook provides an engaging and user-friendly introduction to the study of language. Assuming no prior knowledge in the subject, Yule presents information in short, bite-sized sections, introducing the major concepts in language study – from how children learn language to why men and women speak differently, through all the key elements of language. This fourth edition has been revised and updated with twenty new sections, covering new accounts of language origins, the key properties of language, text messaging, kinship terms and more than twenty new word etymologies. To increase student engagement with the text, Yule has also included more than fifty new tasks, including thirty involving data analysis, enabling students to apply what they have learned. The online study guide offers students further resources when working on the tasks, while encouraging lively and proactive learning. This is the most fundamental and easy-to-use introduction to the study of language.

'Its strength is in providing a general survey of mainstream linguistics in palatable, easily manageable and logically organised chunks. The chapter divisions allow for considerable flexibility, which has proved particularly important after recently restructuring our courses and reorganising the order in which to cover the topics.‘

Nigel Musk - University of Linkoping

'One of the most accessible and entertaining introductions available. Newly updated with a wealth of material for practice and discussion.'

Stephen Matthews - University of Hong Kong

'Genuinely introductory, well suited for undergraduates … Yule’s crisp and thought-provoking presentation works well for a wide range of students.'

Elise Morse-Gagne - Tougaloo College

'The latest edition of this text contains the most extensive changes to date, and all have served to make a good textbook even better … the book is concise, thorough, and succinct. It is also extremely well-written … It is difficult to express how much information this author covers in so few words, while being so informative. There is no fluff in this book; every single sentence counts, every word is important.'

Source: The LINGUIST List