Linguistic Structures

This book has two objectives: to introduce students to linguistics and to show how the study of linguistics prepares students for competition in today’s workplace. The central theme of the book is that human language reflects the capacities and limitations of human beings. The major areas of linguistics (phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics) are grounded in human biology and psychology. In the investigation of other languages and cultures, the discussion shows how linguistic divergence is constrained by the nature of human beings. An equally important objective of the book is to relate the skills required in linguistic analysis to the skills required in the current job market. These skills include the ability to understand and organize huge amounts of data, research relevant issues, analyze problems, think critically, and propose creative solutions. In each chapter, the discussion shows how the skills that students acquire in linguistics are exactly the skills that are needed in today’s workplace.