Linguistics falls in the gap between arts & science on the edges of which the most fascinating discoveries & the most important problems are found. Rather than following the conventional organization of many contemporary introductions to the subject the author of this stimulating guide begins his discussion with the oldest arts end of the subject & moves chronologically through to the newest research
- the science aspects. A series of short thematic chapters look in turn at such areas as the prehistory of languages & their common origins language & evolution language in time & space (the nature of change inherent in language) grammars & dictionaries (how systematic is language?) & phonetics. Explication of the newest discoveries pertaining to language in the brain completes the coverage of all major aspects of linguistics from a refreshing & insightful angle.