The book that tells you all the things you felt you were expected to know about linguistics, but were afraid to ask about. *What do you know about Burushaski and Miwok? *What's the difference between paradigmatic and syntagmatic? *What is E-language? *What is a language? *Do parenthetical and non-restrictive mean the same thing? *How do you write a bibiliographic entry for a work you have not seen? Every student who has asked these questions needs this book. A compendium of useful things for linguistics students to know, from the IPA chart to the Saussurean dichotomies, this book will be the constant companion of anyone undertaking studies of linguistics. Part reference work, part revision guide, and with tables providing summary information on some 280 languages, the book provides a new learning tool as a supplement to the usual textbooks and glossaries.

Author Biography

Laurie Bauer is Professor of Linguistics, Victoria University of Wellington.