The textbook surveys what is known about language and of the methods used by linguists in arriving at that knowledge. Each chapter addresses an aspect of linguistics, reviewing current knowledge and providing study questions, discussion topics and projects, and a list of additional reading. Chapter topics include: the origins of language; development of writing; properties of language; animals and human language; sounds of language; sound patterns; words and word formation processes; morphology; phrases and sentences/grammar; syntax; semantics; pragmatics; discourse analysis; language and machines; language and the brain; first language acquisition; second language learning; sign language; language history and change; language varieties; and language, society, and culture. This second edition incorporates developments in language study over a decade, and includes a new chapter on pragmatics and an expanded chapter on semantics. Suggested answers to study questions are appended, and contents are indexed. Contains almost 700 references. (MSE)