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

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

Every language in the world shares a few common features: we can ask a question, say something belongs to us, and tell someone what to do. But beyond that, our

"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