Language a User's Guide : What We Say and Why

Packed with teacher-friendly explanations and lively examples, this concise guide introduces K-12 teachers to the fundamentals of linguistics. The book addresses intriguing questions about language: What are the connections between the sounds, grammar, and meaning of a language? What are the ingredients of effective communication? How do children acquire language? The authors' clear, accessible answers will enrich and enliven any teacher's work with words. The final chapter examines interlocking issues of culture, class, and language, and explains how linguistics can inform a teacher's response to dialect variations and accents.