This text offers an engaging introduction to the study of linguistics, focusing on the foundational areas (sound, structure, and meaning). Aimed at undergraduate or beginning graduate students, it invites the reader to think about language scientifically, through exploration of data and interactive problem sets from a wide variety of languages.

Integrated practice and discovery problems in various languages encourage students to think analytically and scientifically about language.

'This clear introduction covers sound, structure, and meaning at a level appropriate for undergraduates coming to linguistics for the first time. With a steady progression, well-chosen exercises, and an engaging style, it shows beginners how to think about language scientifically. The final chapter demonstrates how linguists use the thinking introduced in the main three chapters to explore language in social settings.' Mikael Thompson, independent scholar