Chapters cover an introduction to the field; psycholinguistics; sociolinguistics; phonetics and phonology; morphology; syntax; semantics, pragmatics and discourse; language change; and writing and language. The introduction includes special sections on the distinctive properties of language, practical uses of linguistics and the presentation of linguistic examples.

Thomas Nash
Thomas Nash taught in the Department of English Language and Literature, Fu Jen Catholic University, from 1983 to 2009. He served as department head from 1993 to 1999 and taught introductory linguistics as well as a range of courses in applied linguistics and English. He has degrees in anthropology and language teaching and learning from Humboldt State, California, and the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He now works as an editor and translator.