In this Book
- Basics of Language for Language Learners: Literature, Language, and Aesthetics
- Book
- 2010
- Published by: The Ohio State University Press

summary
Learning a language involves so much more than just rote memorization of rules. Basics of Language for Language Learners systematically explores all the aspects of language central to second language learning: the sounds of language, the different grammatical structures, the social functions of communication, and the psychology of language learning and use. Peter W. Culicover and Elizabeth V. Hume guide the reader through all the nuances that empower a person, regardless of age, to be a much more effective, efficient, and proficient language learner. Unlike books specific to one single language, Basics of Language will help students of all languages. Readers will gain insight into the structure and use of their own language and will therefore see more clearly how the language they are learning differs from their first language. Language instructors will find the approach provocative, and the book will stimulate many new and effective ideas for teaching. Both a textbook and a reference work, Basics of Language will enhance the learning experience for anyone taking a foreign language course as well as the do-it-yourself learner.
Table of Contents

- Title Page, Copyright
- pp. i-iv
- Table of Contents
- pp. v-viii
- Acknowledgments
- p. ix
- To the Language Learner
- pp. xi-xii
- 1. Preliminaries
- pp. 1-18
- Part 1. Sounding like a Native Speaker
- 2. Foreign Accents
- pp. 21-30
- 3. How to Make a Consonant
- pp. 31-50
- 4. How to Make a Vowel
- pp. 51-61
- 5. Putting Sounds Together
- pp. 62-72
- 6. Common Pronunciation Errors
- pp. 73-85
- Part 2. Thinking like a Native Speaker
- 7. The Work That Language Does
- pp. 89-103
- 8. Talking about Things
- pp. 104-131
- 9. Expressing Meaning
- pp. 132-171
- Part 3. Acting like a Native Speaker
- 10. The Link between Language and Culture
- pp. 175-193
- 11. Politeness
- pp. 194-208
- 12. Swearing, Insults, and Taboos
- pp. 209-215
- 13. Conclusion
- pp. 216-218
- Subject Index
- pp. 219-224
- Language Index
- pp. 225-227
Additional Information
ISBN
9780814274583
Related ISBN(s)
9780814251720
MARC Record
OCLC
899261226
Pages
227
Launched on MUSE
2015-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
Yes