Language: The Basics (Basics (Routledge Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to linguistics
Review: This book is ideal for the layman coming to the study of language for the first time. I sympathize with another reviewer who protested that he wanted something a little less basic, but I was delighted to see that Trask foresaw this and offers a list of recommended reading at the end of each chapter, and then a short list of more in-depth books on the subject at the end of the book.

I must admit, I had a few chuckles as I read this book, though linguistics may not at first glance appear to be a likely subject for humour. I laughed more than once because language, perhaps like no other phenomenon, is so widely misunderstood, and discussed and dissected by ignoramuses in a way that defies all common sense (see Harry Blamires' "Guide to Common Errors in English" for a case in point). Trask has a hard time concealing his derision for the self-appointed gatekeepers of the English language (who wouldn't get the time of day from anyone who knew the first thing about linguistics), but does so humorously.

Trask has an accessible and pacey style that made reading the entire book in just two or three sittings seem effortless. One really gets a sense for the miracle of human language and its vast complexity. This simple introduction left me wanting more, and I was grateful that Trask pointed me to the right resources for satiating this desire. Yes, it is basic, but it is exactly what is called for for the first-time reader.

Rating:
Summary: It really is the basics
Review: This is a survey of modern linguistics aimed at the general reader. It does not assume any familiarity with the subject. It covers its subject nicely, albeit necessarily superficially. I gave it four rather than five stars because, as someone with an amateur interest in linguistics, I found it *too* basic. I really wanted a book taken up about two notches. Is this a fair objection? Absolutely not: it is purely visceral. For someone approaching modern linguistics for the first time this book is ideal.

Rating:
Summary: What makes human language unique.
Review: This was a pretty good survey of several aspects of human language from language development physiology and history to phychology of language.

The author attempts to talk about language in general and the first half of the book does a very good job of not focusing on Indo-european langues. The examples from Basque, Native American lanuages, Pacific Island languages, and Native Austrailian are very interesting and insightful. But eventually and unfortunately the author (especially in the last half of the book) does revert to talking specifically about English. specifically.