Le lingue e il linguaggio. Introduzione alla linguistica

This volume explores the notion of language as a human skill, but also other relevant aspects of languages: how it works, how it can be broken down, how it changes… Which features distinguish human language from other “languages”? What are the essential characteristics of the technical notion of “language”? Which criteria can be used for grouping the languages of the world into homogeneous categories? After having answered these questions, the authors introduce selected basic tools for the analysis of sounds, word structures, word combinations and meaning. Two “applied” chapters are devoted to the various types of dictionaries and the relationship between language and society. Another chapter deals with the study of language change over time. A final chapter on language acquisition has been added to this updated and revised edition. Although the volume is chiefly intended for undergraduate courses in general linguistics and glottology, it will be of interest to any reader interested in other disciplines related to linguistics, such as psychology, philology, literature theory and language philosophy.