{"id":36,"date":"2008-03-05T11:50:02","date_gmt":"2008-03-05T09:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/elanguage.net\/blogs\/booknotices\/?p=36"},"modified":"2008-07-31T15:34:46","modified_gmt":"2008-07-31T13:34:46","slug":"how-english-works-a-linguistic-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/?p=36","title":{"rendered":"How English works: A linguistic introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"

How English works: <\/strong>A linguistic introduction. By Anne Curzan<\/strong> and Michael Adams<\/strong>. New York: Pearson Education, 2006. Pp. 561. ISBN 0321121880<\/a>. $78.67.<\/p>\n

Reviewed by Jill Ward<\/strong>, Northeastern Illinois University<\/em><\/p>\n

How English works<\/em> sucks its readers in with questions friendly to both linguists and nonlinguists. \u2018Why do some people say aks<\/em> and not ask<\/em>?\u2019, \u2018Who speaks a dialect?\u2019, and \u2018Why is colonel<\/em> spelled the way it is?\u2019 pepper the front cover with the promise of answers we forgot we wanted. The book is designed for English or education majors taking an introductory linguistics class, and focuses on connecting literature, education, and linguistics with everyday uses of English relevant to students\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n

The book consists of fourteen chapters. Chapters begin with vignettes regarding current issues of linguistic interest, such as \u2018blogging\u2019 or attitudes toward dialects in America. Following each vignette is background on the chapter topic and subtopics, followed by a chapter summary, suggested reading, and exercises. Sprinkled throughout the chapters are \u2018special interest boxes\u2019 prompting questions, thought, or connections regarding the larger topic. While the book\u2019s pages do not feature color, charts, photos, diagrams, and maps all contribute to the visual appeal of this text.<\/p>\n

Ch. 1, \u2018A language like English\u2019 (1\u201332), addresses the aspects of human language that make it unique. Ch. 2, \u2018Language and authority\u2019 (33\u201363), implores the reader to consider who is \u2018in charge\u2019 of language, questioning the authority of grammar books, dictionaries, contracts, and governments over and with language. Ch. 3, \u2018English phonology\u2019 (64\u2013100), looks at sound systems, phonological adjustments by speakers, and language change, with a brief connection to spelling.<\/p>\n

Ch. 4, \u2018English morphology\u2019 (101\u201328), examines inflection and derivation, changes in words through affixation, word formation, and slang. Ch. 5, \u2018Syntax: The grammar of words\u2019 (129\u201365), refreshes the student\u2019s memory of parts of speech, introduces the notions of form and function, and helps with oft-confused words. Ch. 6, \u2018Syntax: Phrases, clauses, and sentences\u2019 (166\u2013206), considers universal grammar, constituents and hierarchies, phrase structure rules and trees, and transformations.<\/p>\n

Ch. 7, \u2018Semantics\u2019 (207\u201341), discusses how words mean, reference, prototype theory, and metaphor. Ch. 8, \u2018Spoken discourse\u2019 (242\u201380), looks at discourse analysis, speech acts, the cooperative principle, Grice\u2019s maxims, and politeness. Ch. 9, \u2018Stylistics\u2019 (281\u2013319), introduces systematicity, types of texts, and cohesion. Ch. 10, \u2018Language acquisition\u2019 (320\u201355), addresses universal grammar, first language acquisition, the critical age hypothesis, and aphasia.<\/p>\n

Ch. 11, \u2018Language variation\u2019 (356\u201391), examines dialects, the studies of William Labov, and language contact. Ch. 12, \u2018American dialects\u2019 (392\u2013432), tackles language politics and language variation. Ch. 13, \u2018History of English: Old to Early Modern English\u2019 (435\u201376), revisits language changes in English. Ch. 14, \u2018History of English: Modern and future English\u2019 (477\u2013508), addresses social forces, media, and globalization of English, particularly in regard to World Englishes and English\u2019s use in technology.<\/p>\n

Additional features include a dialect map of American English; American English consonant and vowel charts; a brief timeline for the history of the English language; a list of symbols, linguistic conventions, and common abbreviations; a comprehensive index; and an extensive glossary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How English works: A linguistic introduction. By Anne Curzan and Michael Adams. New York: Pearson Education, 2006. Pp. 561. ISBN 0321121880. $78.67. Reviewed by Jill Ward, Northeastern Illinois University How English works sucks its readers in with questions friendly to both linguists and nonlinguists. \u2018Why do some people say aks and not ask?\u2019, \u2018Who speaks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/journals.linguisticsociety.org\/booknotices\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}