In this fascinating survey of everything from how sounds become speech to how names work, David Crystal answers every question you might ever have had about the

A new and exciting introduction to linguistics, this textbook presents language in all its amazing complexity, while guiding students gently through the basics.

Ranges from how children learn to read to what makes words rude or polite, from eyebrow flashes to whistling languages. Unlocking the secrets of communication i

"A brilliant, witty, and altogether satisfying book." — New York Times Book Review The classic work on the development of human language by the world’s lead

In the World Library of Educationalists series, international experts themselves compile career-long collections of what they judge to be their finest pieces �