Publisher Description

Language is like a vast interconnected spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with the addition of illustrations, suggestions for further reading and notes. An Afterword looks at the reception of the lectures.

Notes

Jean Aitchison explores all aspects of language, from its biological nature and child development to its evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith Lectures, with additional illustrations and suggested further reading.

Author Biography

Jean Aitchison is the Rupert Murdoch Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Oxford, and a Professorial Fellow at Worcester College. In her research she is concerned with the mental lexicon, language change, and the language of the media. She has lectured in various parts of the world, including the USA, Europe, and India, and is the author of "The Articulate Mammal "(Fourth Edition, 1998), "Language Change "(Third Edition, 2001), "Linguistics "(Fifth Edition, 1999), "The Seeds of Speech "(1996), and "The Language Web "(1997).

Table of Contents

1. A web of worries: anxiety about language; 2. A web of deceit: the origin of language; 3. Building the web: acquiring language; 4. A web of words: remembering words; 5. A world-wide web: options and snares.

Promotional

This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with illustrations, notes, and an afterword added which looks at the reception of the lectures.

Promotional "Headline"

This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with illustrations, notes, and an afterword added which looks at the reception of the lectures.

Description for Bookstore

Language is like a vast spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with illustrations, notes, and an afterword which looks at the reception of the lectures.

Description for Library

Language is like a vast spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with illustrations, notes, and an afterword which looks at the reception of the lectures.

Details