Language: the Basics

The Basics

by R.L. Trask

The Basics provides a concise introduction to the study of language. Written in an engaging and entertaining style, it encourages the reader to think about the way language works. New features

* a chapter on 'Language in Use' which introduces pragmatics, metaphor, speech and writing and discourse analysis
* a section on sign language
* a glossary of key terms
* an expanded further reading section
the Basics provides an overview for students and anyone who's ever been accused of splitting an infinitive.

Genres: Linguistics, Language, Nonfiction, Science

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Robert Lawrence "Larry" Trask was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sussex in England. He was an authority on the Basque language: his book The History of Basque (1997) is an essential reference on diachronic Basque linguistics and probably the best introduction to Basque linguistics as a whole. He was also an authority on historical linguistics, and had written about the problem of the origin of language. He also published two introductory books to linguistics: Language: The basics (1995) and Introducing Linguistics (coauthored with Bill Mayblin) (2000), and several dictionaries on different topics of this science: A dictionary of grammatical terms in linguistics (1993), A dictionary of phonetics and phonology (1996), A student's dictionary of language and linguistics (1997), Key concepts in language and linguistics (1999), The dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics (2000) and The Penguin dictionary of English grammar (2000).

He was at work compiling an etymological dictionary of Basque when he died, posthumously published by Max W. Wheeler (Etymological Dictionary of Basque, 2008).

Reviews

[آلاء شرف الدين · Rating 5 out of 5]

لغة الكتاب خفيفة بسيطة والمؤلف صاحب نكتة واضحة لم تذهب بها الترجمة على ضعفها للأسف "حقيقة أكثر ما أثار غيظي ترجمة مصطلح علماء اللسانيات العصبية إلى العلماء العصابيين -_- "
الاطلاع على اللغات الأخرى وكيف أن الأجناس في بعض اللغات وصلت إلى ثمانية أو تسعة بينما هي في العربية جنسان: المذكر والمؤنث جعلني ادرك كم لغتنا مظلومة في اتهامها بالصعوبة :)
الكتاب يزيد من وعي القارئ ويفتح له آفاقاً جديدة في الدراسة اللغوية المعتمدة على الملاحظة خاصة في لغة الطفل ولغة المصابين بسكتات دماغية أو تلف في أحد نصفي الدماغ.
فصل اللغة والدماغ جعلني أضطرب كثيراً من هذا التوصيف الدقيق للتحولات اللغوية التي تطرأ بعد الإصابة بسكتة دماغية ومن معلومات جديدة لي عن عمل الدماغ في اكتساب اللغة وكيف أن الدماغ مثلاً لا يصنف الكلمات عشوائياً وإنما من خلال عدد لا حصر له من الروابط كالتشابه في الصوت والهجاء والارتباط المعنوي أو الانتماء إلى الفئة النحوية ذاتها .. تربط الكلمات إلى بعضها مما يعين على تذكرها .. وكنت في هذا كله أستحضر الآية: {علمه البيان} وأحزن كما هو الحال دائماً على دراساتنا اللغوية البعيدة عن كل هذا.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Language is my passion (and my degree subject) so it was almost a certainty going in that I'd enjoy this. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find how accessible it was, and I can imagine that for people who had no knowledge whatsoever it would be a good place to start to learn a lot. There were moments of humour dotted all throughout, and I found myself reading it cover to cover as though it were a novel. It would definitely be easy to read each section individually though, as the topics are separated very clearly. I'd definitely recommend it for all people, whether they have a background in linguistics or not!

[Suvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

English Philology entrance exam
Easy and quick read. I wasn't originally interested about linguistics that much when I decided to apply to this department but Trask introduced many interesting aspects of language. It didn't come across as dry and academic but as funny and informative. Would recommend to everyone interested in this subject but mostly to those who want a quick introduction.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-organized, easy to understand introduction to linguistics. The author explains why human language is unique, how babies learn, differences between regional dialects, men and women's styles of speaking, how languages change over time, and others. Lots of references for further reading. Funny and conversational style that would be enjoyable even if the material weren't so fascinating.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just an incredible book. Somehow it manages to be interesting, concise and thought-provoking at the same time. It is, as such, quite simply the perfect introduction to languages in general. Although that might have something to do with my pre-existing fascination for the topic, it is written so accessibly and enticingly that anyone should thoroughly enjoy this.

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a dry and matter-of-fact book, but enjoyable reading.

[Tiina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for my university entrance exam nine years ago. Now that I've finished my studies and have my dream job, I decided to give this book another go. It was super interesting when I first read it and really made me want to study languages. Would I still feel the same way, after having studied them for years?

Yes. This book is a very enjoyable read. Sure, it only scratches the surface, but it does so with a hilarious and entertaining style that has you gasping more than a thriller and laughing more than a book of jokes.

Languages are amazing, and if you don't think so, I challenge you to read this book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I particularly appreciated the inclusion of and discussion of sign languages in this book.
I enjoy books about language and too often they seem to barely mention sign.
But second, this is entertainingly out of date on some stuff, specifically he seems mystified by how we could possibly replace he/she with something less awkward 🤣 like, “they” maybe?

[Mobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant introduction to the world of language and grammar. Each sentence is clear evidence of Trask’s passion for the subject. I expected I might have to struggle through this one, but he made me genuinely interested. There’s a list of further reading at the end of every chapter, so you know where to go if you’re drawn to a particular concept or theory and want to learn more.

[Tasneem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable! An excellent primer to start you off on the linguistics journey. I studied linguistics for my undergraduate degree years ago and even flirted with the idea of doing my MA in sociolinguistics. Coming back to the subject 2 decades later has been a joy.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly interesting and amusing look at linguistics and semantics. definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in how we communicate.

[Vadym D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Full of insights put in the way that's easy to access.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially gripping and frankly hilarious, Trask unfortunately loses his edge at the later chapters. An engaging and informative read overall (it is potentially the go-to book for the absolutely clueless), though I'm sure some of the more scientific info is dated by this point (late 2018).

[Marfita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice and easy read on the, well, basics of language. Most of it I have come across before, but it's always fun to read about it from another point of view. Or at least I thought it was another point of view. Trask is a professor in England and this is a text used in classes over there that I read about in an article in a British e-magazine, but it turns out Trask is from Western New York State. Great. What, like Rochester?

Anyway, he pooh-poohs some of my pet crackpot theories by merely calling them controversial. Different language does not make a person think differently, if you base it on color labeling. But. BUT, people modify their language according to their needs or social thingummies, so does that not reinforce their ways of thinking? That "high degree of non-committal vagueness" of the Malagasy language goes hand in hand with the prestige of having information no one else does and the stigma of embarrassing someone or making a wrong prediction. That's just social conditioning? And social conditioning doesn't affect the way someone thinks?

And Washoe? Baby in my drink! Baby in my drink! The absence of duality in animal communication is undermined by bees, but there might be more examples that we just haven't found. The inability of animal communication to include lying doesn't separate them totally from us. We are much, much better at language ... and lying, but we aren't superior. We have our niche and they have theirs. We have lying to grease our social wheels - and bonobos have sex. Maybe animals just stick to the point.

Good stuff on bidialectalism (handy glossary and index as well) and the importance of local dialects as well as a standard. I shall enjoy splitting infinitives and ending sentences with prepositions (like a good German) and starting sentences with "Hopefully," with Trask's blessing. The need to feel superior (my dialect is better than yours, for example) gets us into all sorts of trouble. People double down on petty things like the Basques and the War of the Aitches and internet trolls with their conspiracy theories.

I'm humbler than you are. Nyah-nyah.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of issues in language with some flowing prose and firm opinions. In particular there are slaps for unimaginative single-rule-spouting grammar Nazis who think the one rule they (think they) learned gives them some form of superiority over other users of their language. We know plenty of them, unfortunately. So, clearly, did Trask.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book. I found myself saying "that is so interesting" over and over again. Trask succeeds in evoking a sense of wonder. He artfully lines up the concepts so that we can feel their significance, but does so with a touch of wit. One of the best non fiction books I have ever read.

[Ayman Assaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nice, quick, we'll organized, informative and enjoyable book.