The main sub-themes in this chapter are language as part of a semiotic system, the modes of language, studying linguistic structure, language and ideology, and theorizing about language.Ĭoncerning language as a semiotic system, the chapter establishes that language as a system of communication has its origin in semiotics. The chapter portrays language as the basic tenet of communication. Ĭhapter one, the study of language, provides a summary of how linguists approach the study of language.
Section one deals with general characteristics of English, and section two focuses on the grammatical characteristics of English language (from sentences to speech sounds). Accordingly, the author has segmented the book into two main sections. That is, the total comprehension of these smaller units of language is highly dependent on larger linguistic units. The rationale behind his strategy is that most of the times, smaller units of language are not treated in isolation. However, that is what the author wants his readers to know, believe and understand. This is quite unusual of most Applied Linguistics books. That is, instead of commencing with the phoneme (the smallest unit of language), and graduating to the largest unit (the text), the arrangement of the book originates at the level of the text (modes of language and linguistic structure) and moves to the smaller units of language.
The intention of the author for publishing the book is to provide adequate information about introduction to the study of English language in a top-down approach, instead of the conventional bottom-up discussion. chapters five, six, and seven) discuss English syntax, English words: structure and meaning, and the sounds of English, correspondingly. Chapters two, three, and four deal with the development of English, the social context of English, and the structure of English texts, respectively. The arrangement of the chapters (uncharacteristically of most English language books), has been done in a top-down discussion with chapter one focusing on the study of language. The book is divided into seven chapters, with each chapter focusing on a particular aspect of Applied Linguistics. Consequently, the paper is structured into five parts: the introduction, the contents, the thesis, the chapters, and conclusion. So, a review of such a book on Applied Linguistics by second language teachers will provide enlightenment of some demanding topics to second language learners and users. One of the books that highlight some of the vital topics of Applied Linguistics is Meyer’s Introducing English Linguistics. Again, many books have been written in this language. Because of the significance of English language, it has been extensively studied and taught. It is the language of government, the law, the media, education, and business. Ghana), English, the second language, plays a lot of instrumental functions. Though there are many local languages in this extremely multilingual West African state (i.e. In Ghana, for example, it is interesting to note that English is not only referred to as the national language, but interchangeably referred to as the official language. All over the world, English language is seen playing countless roles in many countries. The universal nature of English language is so intense that there are more non-native speakers of the language than there are native speakers.
Although Mandarin Chinese may have more speakers, no language is spoken in more parts of the world than the English language.
Presently, English language teaching continues to be as vigorous and multifaceted today, as it was yesterday.
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