If you are just starting your studies in linguistics, the first piece of advice I have seem rather odd. It is this: beware of all books on linguistics. And that includes the one you are now reading. A healthy scepticism is not a bed thing. Most books on linguistics raise expectation of understanding which they cannot fulfil. This is not entirely their fault, of course. There is an undeniable technical and theoretical base to the subject, and negotiating through ...
