How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, and Languages Live or Die

This book is really beautiful - the fonts used and the layout are very distinctive. A++ on that.The book itself is a series of short chapters on a wide variety of language topics each of which could stand alone. It is interesting and well written, if a tad dry, but not too deep on any one topic. Think of a series of magazine articles in a magazine devoted to a particular interest, where the level of vocabulary assumes some knowledge of the topic. The chapters are all cross referenced - it would easily move to a web article.The breath of topics is very wide - from sounds and physiology to computer translation by way of grammar and language families. Overall it is very informative, but a book to take in small doses.

This book covers every aspect of language: the physiological, paralingual communication, nuances of language, and almost any other thing that you can think of involving language. It is from England so some of the spellings and phrasings are different, but I found it to be interesting, readable, and full of new information, based on the latest research.

Excellent book. Very interesting

A manual for me, written by the author I admire most.

It feels very complete. It covers so many areas of language and somertimes it even gets a bit too specific.

Highly recommend for students of language and social sciences. Once you read it you will ever be the same person again! it takes you to the most relevant aspects of language.

I enjoyed this book - lots of interesting data, much of which was new to me. I thought that the 'mechanical' chapters at the beginning were a rather dry intro and could perhaps have been put in an appendix.

Very useful

This book was recommended to support an Open University module I was studying. As such, it made for an interesting read but, like a lot of the texts I read for the module, it can get a bit heavy at times. However it served its purpose and I managed to pass the course, so I should perhaps give thanks to author David Crystal for his insight into language!

Crystal has this enviable ability to explain what is fundamentally complex clearly and comprehensively. Language and languages were my professional business when working. I just wish that much of what he has to say had been available when I was still active in the field. His comments on what should be taught in schools are especially valuable as the UK at last seems to be stirring out of its linguistic imperialism and indolence. Should be required reading for all involved in teaching.

Fantastic book if you are interested in linguistics studies

Has that old book smell that I love. No damage except time!

Bought it for my Boyfriend. He really enjoyed it, The few pages I got to read from it make it a very interesting and easy read.