The Language Web The Poer and Problem of Words - The 1996 BBC Reith Lectures [Paperback]

This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with illustrations, notes, and an afterword added which looks at the reception of the lectures.Language is like a vast interconnected spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with the addition of illustrations, suggestions for further reading and notes, and an Afterword looking at the reception of the lectures.Language is like a vast interconnected spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with the addition of illustrations, suggestions for further reading and notes, and an Afterword looking at the reception of the lectures.Language is like a vast interconnected spider's web. In this volume Jean Aitchison explores the different facets of this web, ranging from its biological nature and the way in which language is acquired by children to the way the web has aided language evolution. This is the text of the 1996 BBC Reith lectures, with the addition of illustrations, suggestions for further reading and notes. An Afterword looks at the reception of the lectures.1. A web of worries: anxiety about language; 2. A web of deceit: the origin of language; 3. Building the web: acquiring language; 4. A web of words: remembering words; 5. A world-wide web: options and snares.