Linguistics - (Why It Matters) 2nd Edition by Geoffrey K Pullum (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Language is the medium in which we humans compose our thoughts, explain our thinking, construct our arguments, and create works of literature. Without language, societies as complex as ours could not exist.

In this new edition of his widely acclaimed book, Geoffrey Pullum offers a stimulating account of the many ways in which the study of linguistics matters. With its close relationships to psychology, education, philosophy, and computer science, the subject has a compelling human story to tell about the ways in which different societies see and describe the world.

Now updated to include discussion of the outsized impact of rapidly accelerating current events, including large language models, Pullum's new edition reveals how the far-reaching applications of linguistics (from law to medicine and from developmental psychology to artificial intelligence) are more pertinent than ever.

Review Quotes

"Geoff Pullum's book is the best sort of introduction to a field. First, you learn something new and interesting on every page. And second, once you've finished reading it, you're inspired to find out more about this fascinating discipline."
Ben Yagoda, University of Delaware

"Geoff Pullum makes a compelling case that the scientific study of human language continues to be essential for understanding our species and our society."
Justine Cassell, Carnegie Mellon University

About the Author

Geoffrey K. Pullum is Professor Emeritus of General Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.