This book is designed as a textbook and is intended to present a sample of the more popular approaches to linguistic theorizing.

It covers different aspects of each theory including general ontology, methodology, world view, and certain specifics including its problem-solving capacity regarding the English auxiliary complex. It gives a brief summary of the salient points of each theory and concludes with a brief treatment of concurrent developments in phonology. Included are discussions on: tagmemics generative transformational grammar stratificational linguistics Montague grammar generalized phrase structure grammar lexical-functional grammar relational grammar, and functional approaches to grammar.

Jerold Edmondson is a leading figure in the studies of Kadai languages of southeast Asia, and is professor of Linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington. Donald A. Burquest has done linguistic research in Nigeria and is currently associate professor of Linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington.