Books in the Cambridge Introductions to Language and Linguistics series

This major new textbook provides a clearly-written, concise and accessible introduction to speech and language processing. Assuming knowledge of only the very basics of linguistics and written specifically for students with no technical background, it is the perfect starting point for anyone beginning to study the discipline.

This accessible textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonetics, the study of speech. Assuming no prior knowledge of the topic, it introduces students to the fundamental concepts in phonetic science, and equips them with the essential skills needed for recognizing, describing and transcribing a range of speech sounds.

Semantics is the study of meaning in language. This clear and comprehensive textbook provides an introduction to the subject for undergraduate students. It contains more than 200 exercises and discussion questions designed to test and deepen readers' understanding.

Designed for students with only a basic knowledge of linguistics, this leading textbook provides a clear and practical introduction to phonology. This thoroughly revised and updated edition teaches in a step-by-step fashion the logical techniques of phonological analysis and the fundamental theories that underpin it.

A genuine introduction to the linguistics of English that provides a broad overview of the subject that sustains students' interest and avoids excessive detail. It takes a top-down approach to language beginning with the largest unit of linguistic structure, the text, and working its way down through successively smaller structures.

Providing a solid foundation in second language acquisition, the third edition of this leading introduction to the subject is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students of linguistics, psychology and education, as well as trainee language teachers. The new edition has been revised throughout, and includes updated online resources.

How humans produce and understand language is clearly introduced in this textbook for students with only a basic knowledge of linguistics. With a logical, flexible structure Introducing Psycholinguistics steps through the central topics of production and comprehension of language and the interaction between them. Students will gain an understanding of the processes and representations involved in language use, aided by a comprehensive glossary, concepts defined in the margins and online flashcards that allow students to check their understanding of all the key terms and concepts of the subject. Examples and exercises throughout each topic reinforce understanding and encourage students to consider what language users might carry around in their heads as part of their linguistic knowledge, and how this stored knowledge relates to the structures and rules proposed by theoretical linguistics. Students will gain hands-on experience of experimental methods, with online demonstrations of techniques. This supports the theory within the book, reinforces a student's grasp of the concepts and allows the student to apply their understanding to the analysis of data.

Presenting key insights from contemporary syntactic theory in one clear and coherent narrative, this lively textbook provides a concise introduction to the formal theory of syntax, avoiding unnecessary detail. It is suitable for undergraduate students in linguistics, modern languages and English.

Language typology identifies similarities and differences between languages of the world. This textbook provides an introduction to the subject which assumes minimal prior knowledge of linguistics. It offers the broadest coverage of any introductory book, with sections on historical change, language acquisition and language processing.

A lively introduction to morphology (how words are put together), this textbook is intended for undergraduates with relatively little background in linguistics. This second edition has been thoroughly updated, including new examples and exercises as well as a detailed introduction to using linguistic corpora to find and analyze morphological data.

An accessible and entertaining textbook that introduces students to sociolinguistics in a real-world context, addressing contemporary social problems such as racism, inequality, political conflict, belonging and issues around gender and sexuality. Each chapter includes exercises for hands-on practice, and ideas for small-scale research projects.