本书意在向读者提供有关英语语言学的基本概念和知识，适当介绍过去五十年来有关语言学几个主要领域所取得的最新研究成果；更重要的是，将语言学的基本理论的讲解和英语语言学习相结合，将所讲理论用来指导英语学习，并通过大量语言实际使用过程中的例子来培养学生对英语语言的感性认识和理性认识，提高语言实际使用能力。

Chapter 1 General Linguistics: The Scope of the Subject

1.1 The nature of language

1.1.1 What is language?

1.1.2 Design/Distinctive features of language

  1 1.2.1 Arbitrariness

  1 1.2.2 Linearity

  1 1.2.3 Discreteness

  1 1.2.4 Duality

  1 1.2.5 Creativity/Productivity/Open-endedness

  1 1.2.6 Displacement

  1 1.2.7 Interchangeability

  1.1.2.8 Cultural transmission

  1.1.2.9 Transferability

1.1.3 Human language : endowment or accomplishment

1.1.4 Language, mind and social life

1. 2 General linguistics: the scientific/systematic study of language

1.2.1 What is general linguistics concerned with?

1.2.2 Approaches to language

1.2.3 The scope of linguistics

1.3 Some important distinctions in linguistics

1.3.1  Prescriptive grammar and descriptive grammar

1.3.2 Langue and parole

1.3.3 Competence and performance

1.3.4 Eric and emic

1.4 The data of linguistics

Appendix

Chapter 2 Phonetics: The Sounds of Language

2.1 What is phonetics concerned with?

2.1.1 The importance of phonetics

2.1.2 Major branches of phonetics

2.2 Mechanism of pronunciation

2.2.1  Vocal/Speech organs: the physical aspects of pronunciation

2.2.2 Segmentation : consonants and vowels

2.3 The articulation of English consonant sounds

2.4 The articulation of English vowel sounds

2.5 Transcription of sounds

Appendix

Chapter 3 Phonology: The Sound Patterns of Language

Chapter 4 Grammar:Morphology

Chapter 5 Grammar:Syntax

Chapter 6 emantics

Chapter 7 Pragmatics

Bibliography(For chapter 1-7)

Chapter 8 Sociolinguistics

Chapter 9 Systemic-Functional Linguistics

Chapter 10 Discourse Analysis