Language in Use

A Reader

Andrew John Merrison editor Patrick Griffiths editor Aileen Bloomer editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:6th Jul '09

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Language in Use cover

Designed for introductory students, this collection of key readings in language and linguistics will take readers beyond their introductory textbook and introduce them to the thoughts and writings of many esteemed authorities. The reader includes seminal papers, new or controversial pieces to stimulate discussion and reports on applied work.

Language in Use:

  • is split into four parts – ‘Language and Interaction’, ‘Language Systems’, ‘Language and Society’ and ‘Language and Mind
  • covers all the topics of language study including conversation analysis, pragmatics, power and politeness, semantics, grammar, phonetics, multilingualism, child language acquisition and psycholinguistics
  • has readings from authorities including Pinker, Fairclough, Crystal, Le Page and Tabouret-Keller, Hughes, Trudgill and Watt, Halliday, Sacks, Mills, Obler and Gjerlow
  • provides comprehensive editorial support for each reading with introductions, activities or discussion points to follow and further reading
  • Is supported by a companion website, offering extra resources for students including additional activities, useful weblinks and advice from the authors

Designed for use as a companion to Introducing Language in Use (Routledge, 2005), but also highly usable as a stand-alone text, this Reader will introduce readers to the wide world of linguistics and applied linguistics.

'From pragmatics and politeness, through Singlish and swearing to sign languages, and from ethnographic through systemic to experimental approaches, this appealing selection of readings provokes and promotes a critical approach to the study of language in use in a wide range of social contexts. With stimulating suggestions for follow-up activities and further reading, this is an ideal text for those embarking on the adventure of learning how to study language.' Janet Holmes, Head of School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

'Anybody who enjoyed reading "Introducing Language in Use” will find this reader an invaluable addition to be used in combination with it or indeed as an independent resource for students in self-study.' Miriam Locher, Professor of English Linguistics, Universität Basel, Switzerland

'I can safely anticipate that students will pick this up and end up reading more than they intended to. Language in Use: A Reader looks to be useful for all three undergraduate levels in English Language. Not so much a resource book, more the horse’s mouth.' Tim Parke, Principal Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Hertfordshire, UK

'This exciting new textbook covers a wide range of key reading material brought together in a single volume. It will enhance many study programmes in the fields of English Language and Linguistics, allowing students to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ and explore the backgrounds to their studies at a number of levels. A wonderful resource indeed!' Catherine Watts, Principal Lecturer, School of Language, Linguistics and Communication, University of Brighton, UK

'...brilliantly geared towards students.' - LINGUIST List


'From pragmatics and politeness, through Singlish and swearing to sign languages, and from ethnographic through systemic to experimental approaches, this appealing selection of readings provokes and promotes a critical approach to the study of language in use in a wide range of social contexts. With stimulating suggestions for follow-up activities and further reading, this is an ideal text for those embarking on the adventure of learning how to study language.' Janet Holmes, Head of School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

'Anybody who enjoyed reading "Introducing Language in Use” will find this reader an invaluable addition to be used in combination with it or indeed as an independent resource for students in self-study.' Miriam Locher, Professor of English Linguistics, Universität Basel, Switzerland

'I can safely anticipate that students will pick this up and end up reading more than they intended to. Language in Use: A Reader looks to be useful for all three undergraduate levels in English Language. Not so much a resource book, more the horse’s mouth.' Tim Parke, Principal Lecturer in Linguistics, University of Hertfordshire, UK

'This exciting new textbook covers a wide range of key reading material brought together in a single volume. It will enhance many study programmes in the fields of English Language and Linguistics, allowing students to ‘stand on the shoulders of giants’ and explore the backgrounds to their studies at a number of levels. A wonderful resource indeed!' Catherine Watts, Principal Lecturer, School of Language, Linguistics and Communication, University of Brighton, UK

'... brilliantly geared toward students, and its didactic component is easily appreciated, not only in organization and presentation but also in the vocabulary and language used, in both a practical and a motivational sense. This is an important volume for students of linguistics.' - Linguist List

ISBN: 9780415442053

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 748g

416 pages