This textbook is the most fundamental and easy-to-use introduction for beginner students. The eighth edition has substantial changes to the chapters on Origins, Phonetics, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis, First and Second Language Acquisition, and Language and Culture, 40 new study questions and more than twenty new tasks.

Easy to follow, simple to understand, broad yet concise coverage - this fundamental introduction now has more study questions and tasks.