PDF #7 – An Introduction To The Study Of Language by Leonard Bloomfield 1914
This little book is intended, as its title implies, for the general reader and for the student who is entering upon linguistic work. Its purpose is the same, accordingly, as that of Whitney’s Language and the Study of Language and The Life and Growth Language, books which fifty years ago represented the attainments of linguistic science and, owing to their author’s clearness of view and conscientious discrimination between ascertained fact and mere surmise, contain little to which we cannot today subscribe.
The great progress of our science in the last half-century is, I believe, nevertheless sufficient excuse for my attempt to give a summary of what is now known about language. That the general reader needs such information as is here given was recognized by Whitney, who wrote, in the preface of his first-named book: ‘It can hardly admit of question that at least so much knowledge of the nature, history, and classifications of language as is here presented ought to be included in every scheme of higher education.’ While questions of a linguistic nature are everywhere a frequent subject of discussion, it is surprising how little even educated people are in touch with the scientific study of language. I hope that my book will furnish a simple aid for those who choose to make up this deficiency in our scheme of general education.
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