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Book: A Short Introduction to the Study of Language

Chapter: What is Language?

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.35934

Blurb:

1 Introduction
2 Creativity of Human Language
3 Infinite Capacity of Language
4 The Rules of English Grammar
5 Descriptive versus Prescriptive Grammar
5.1 Prescriptive Rules of English Grammar
Don’t end a sentence with a preposition
Don’t use double negatives
Don’t split infinitives
6 Is Colloquial English “sloppy”?
6.1 Expletive Infixation in English
7 Language Rules are Unconscious
References
Suggested Materials

Chapter Contributors

  • Ellen Thompson (thompson@fiu.edu - ethompson) 'Florida International University'