| Introduction | | vii | |
| Language | |
| | 3 | (6) |
| The nature and functions of language |
| |
| Language in Thinking and Thought |
| | 9 | (10) |
| Thinking and reasoning in relation to speech and language |
| |
| Language Myths and Origins |
| | 19 | (4) |
| The origins and early history of speech and language |
| |
| | 23 | (3) |
| Facial expressions, gestures, and other forms of non-verbal communication |
| |
| | 26 | (6) |
| The nature of meaning, definition, sense, and nonsense |
| |
| | 32 | (4) |
| The choice between talk and action, language and living |
| |
| | 36 | (7) |
| Continuity and change in language over time; loan words and neologisms |
| |
| | 43 | (7) |
| Issues of usage and correctness in language |
| |
| The Language of Youth and Age |
| | 50 | (7) |
| Child language, and the changes between youth and old age |
| |
| Languages | |
| | 57 | (3) |
| The world's languages; language identity, endangerment, maintenance, and death |
| |
| | 60 | (6) |
| The supposed qualities of different languages |
| |
| Bilingualism and Multilingualism |
| | 66 | (4) |
| Being proficient in more than one language |
| |
| Translating and Interpreting |
| | 70 | (5) |
| The task of translation and interpreting |
| |
| | 75 | (5) |
| Principles and practices of language teaching and learning |
| |
| | 80 | (7) |
| Impressions of foreign languages; speech by and to foreigners |
| |
| Analysing Language | |
| | 87 | (6) |
| Terms and techniques for analysing language; linguistics and philology |
| |
| | 93 | (4) |
| The nature and functions of speech and speaking |
| |
| | 97 | (3) |
| Speech sounds, vocal organs, and the sound of the voice |
| |
| | 100 | (3) |
| The nature and functions of listening and hearing |
| |
| | 103 | (4) |
| The nature and functions of reading and books |
| |
| | 107 | (6) |
| The nature and functions of writing; techniques of successful writing |
| |
| Learning to Read and Write |
| | 113 | (3) |
| Literacy; spelling and its reform; writing systems |
| |
| | 116 | (9) |
| Grammar, grammars, and points of grammatical usage |
| |
| | 125 | (6) |
| Dictionaries and lexicographers |
| |
| Good and Bad Language | |
| | 131 | (7) |
| Oratory, eloquence, rhetoric, and other forms of good or bad expression |
| |
| | 138 | (9) |
| Conversational topics and strategies |
| |
| | 147 | (3) |
| Topics, knowledge, opinions, and beliefs as expressed by language |
| |
| Language Clear and Unclear |
| | 150 | (4) |
| Obscurity, vagueness, imprecision, ambiguity, and other issues of clarity |
| |
| | 154 | (6) |
| Verbosity, long-windedness, and other forms of excessive speech or writing |
| |
| | 160 | (3) |
| Brevity, taciturnity, conciseness, and other forms of economy in speech or writing |
| |
| | 163 | (5) |
| The nature and functions of silence and pause |
| |
| | 168 | (4) |
| Words of comfort, love, apology, gentleness, praise, and tact |
| |
| | 172 | (2) |
| Flattering, smooth, andinsincere language |
| |
| | 174 | (3) |
| Speaking or writing sharply; sarcasm, ridicule, anger, insult, and slander |
| |
| | 177 | (2) |
| Quarrelling, disputing, arguing, and debating |
| |
| | 179 | (8) |
| Telling the truth, lying, secrets, vows, and other promises |
| |
| Words | |
| | 187 | (5) |
| Words in general, their nature and function |
| |
| | 192 | (5) |
| Words and language praised or celebrated |
| |
| | 197 | (5) |
| Words and language criticized or condemned |
| |
| | 202 | (4) |
| Words seen as weapons or ammunition |
| |
| | 206 | (3) |
| Words of wisdom or advice; words careless or foolish |
| |
| | 209 | (2) |
| Slang and fashionable language |
| |
| | 211 | (4) |
| Swearing, cursing, obscenity, and other exclamatory language |
| |
| | 215 | (2) |
| Cliches, platitudes, euphemisms, and other worn-out expressions |
| |
| | 217 | (7) |
| Names and nicknames of people, places, or animals |
| |
| | 224 | (7) |
| Individual words and expressions praised or condemned |
| |
| Style, Genre and Variety | |
| | 231 | (3) |
| The nature of style in language |
| |
| | 234 | (5) |
| The use of language in literature and criticism |
| |
| | 239 | (7) |
| The distinctive language of poetry; the differences between poetry and prose |
| |
| | 246 | (2) |
| The use of images in speech and writing |
| |
| | 248 | (5) |
| Regional ways of talking, in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and style |
| |
| | 253 | (4) |
| Language in society; social class and politeness |
| |
| | 257 | (3) |
| Opinions and attitudes about male and female speech |
| |
| | 260 | (3) |
| Academic language, and jargon in general |
| |
| | 263 | (3) |
| The jargon of politics, diplomacy, the civil service, and public administration |
| |
| | 266 | (2) |
| Legal terms, personalities, and procedures |
| |
| | 268 | (5) |
| Talking to or about God, and other forms of religious language |
| |
| | 273 | (2) |
| The language used in science and technology |
| |
| The Language of the Media |
| | 275 | (3) |
| Communication in the press, advertising, radio, and television |
| |
| | 278 | (2) |
| The language of theatre, cinema, and mime |
| |
| | 280 | (2) |
| Language in relation to music, opera and song |
| |
| | 282 | (4) |
| Proverbs, maxims, epigrams, and other succinct expressions |
| |
| | 286 | (3) |
| Puns, jokes, anagrams, wit, and other kinds of language play |
| |
| | 289 | (8) |
| Linguistically distinctive characters in fact and fiction |
| |
| Postscript | |
| | 297 | (2) |
| The use and abuse of quotations |
| |
| Index of Authors | | 299 | (18) |
| Index of Sources | | 317 | (19) |
| Index of Key Words, Phrases, and Concepts | | 336 | |
