本书是世界著名语言学家R.H.Robins的经典著作，从纵横两方面综述了现代西方语言学研究的学术源流，同时也概述了各细分领域的基础理论。本书条理清晰，论述全面，通俗易懂，是国内部分高校推荐的考研参考书和专业课用书。

Preface to first edition
Preface to second edition
Preface to third edition
Preface to fourth edition
System of reference
Transcriptions and abbreviations
1 General linguistics: the scope of the subject
1.1 General linguistics as the study of language
1.1.1 Language and languages
1.1.2 Descriptive, historical, and comparative
linguistics
1.1.3 The term 'philology'
1.2 Linguistics as a science
1.2.1 Implications of the term 'science'
1.2.2 Practical applications
1.3 The range of general linguistics
1.3.1 Levels of analysis
1.3.2 Language and communication
1.3.3 Phonetics, phonology, grammar,
semantics
1.4 Semantics
1.4.1 Philosophical and linguistic interest in
meaning
1.4.2 Word meaning
1.4.3 Sentence meaning
1.4.4 Extralinguistic context
1.4.5 Translation
General bibliography
Bibliography for Chapter 1
Notes to Chapter 1
……
2 Theoretical and methodological considerations
3 Phonetics
4 Phonology
5 Grammar: grammatical elements
6 Grammar: grammatical classes, structures, and categories
7 Current linguistic theory
8 Linguistic comparison
9 Wider perspectives