Thinking About Language considers the ideas and theories underpinning language study. It encourages students to begin thinking about ways of seeing language and introduces past debates and current disputes on the way that human language works. The book offers a balance between theory and application and provides an interesting and accessible introduction to the history of linguistic theory, the variety of different theoretical approaches to language study and to the current state of the subject.

'The goal of this volume is to provide an introduction to a number of conceptual and philosophical issues surrounding the nature and study of language. The book is wonderfully clear and engaging, and deserves a place in every undergraduate curriculum.' - Geoffrey Poole, School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, University of Newcastle, UK