Introduction to Theoretical Linguistics

By John Lyons

Book Overview

This is a comprehensive introduction to current linguistic theory. It supposes no previous knowledge and terms are defined as they are introduced; but it gives a fairly rigorous and technical... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521056179
• ISBN13: 9780521056175
• Release Date: June 1968
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 530 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The best intro on the subject

I've read lots of both applied and theoretical linguistics books and this one is by far the best intro to the theoretical areas. Very well written and understandable despite the quite respectable level of technical discussion and scholarship. After reading this book you will be in excellent shape to tackle more advanced topics and books. Lyons covers all the major areas, from phonetics to structural linguistics and transformational grammar. To give just one example of the many discussions I enjoyed in this book, there was the section in which Lyons discusses ergative languages, such as Eskimo, and the concepts of ergativity vs. transitivity. Altogether a superb introduction and although now a true classic (having been published in 1968), one which I've never seen surpassed.