Preface -- 1. The origins of language -- 2. Animals and human language -- 3. The development of writing -- 4. The sounds of language -- 5. The sound patterns of language -- 6. Words and word-formation processes -- 7. Morphology -- 8. Phrases and sentences : grammar -- 9. Syntax -- 10. Semantics -- 11. Pragmatics -- 12. Discourse analysis -- 13. Language and the brain -- 14. First language acquisition -- 15. Second language acquisition/learning -- 16. Gestures and sign languages -- 17. Language history and change -- 18. Language and regional variation -- 19. Language and social variation -- 20. Language and culture -- Appendix : suggested answers to study questions -- Glossary -- References -- Index.