What's a good Linguistics textbook?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on recommended textbooks for introductory linguistics courses, specifically highlighting "The Language Instinct" by Stephen Pinker as the primary text used in a summer Linguistics 1 course at a university. While some participants argue that this book is not a traditional textbook, it is recognized as a valuable resource for those interested in language. Additionally, "Gödel, Escher, Bach" by Douglas Hofstadter is mentioned as a profound, albeit challenging, read that relates to linguistics but is not a textbook. The conversation emphasizes the varying depths of content available in linguistics literature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of introductory linguistics concepts
  • Familiarity with Stephen Pinker's "The Language Instinct"
  • Basic knowledge of mathematical concepts for reading "Gödel, Escher, Bach"
  • Awareness of different types of linguistics literature (textbooks vs. general interest books)
NEXT STEPS
  • Research additional linguistics textbooks suitable for beginners
  • Explore the themes and concepts presented in "Gödel, Escher, Bach"
  • Investigate other works by Stephen Pinker related to language
  • Look into supplementary resources for understanding linguistics beyond textbooks
USEFUL FOR

Students of linguistics, educators seeking course materials, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of language through both academic and general literature.

Shackleford
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I'd like to find a good intro. or whatever Linguistics textbook I can buy online. Thanks.
 
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The summer Linguistics 1 course at my university uses "The language Instinct" by Stephen Pinker.
 
Math Is Hard said:
The summer Linguistics 1 course at my university uses "The language Instinct" by Stephen Pinker.

I wouldn't call that book a textbook, but it is a good read for anyone interested in language.

One of the best books I have read that deals with language somewhat obliquely but profoundly is "Godel Escher Bach" by Hofstadter. That one is most definitely not a textbook on linguistics but it is another excellent read for someone interested in linguistics. It is not an easy read though unless one is quite good at math.

Past that, it depends on what you want. You can go deeply into the math or have a more hand waving superficial read.
 
Last edited:
wildman said:
I wouldn't call that book a textbook, but it is a good read for anyone interested in language.

I probably wouldn't call it a "textbook" either, but if the University of California Academic Senate deems it as appropriate for as a textbook for a beginning linguistics course, I think it's a decent recommendation.
 

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