astronomy

Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction

Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction rather than just read about it. In short: Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction is a book by Peter Hugoe Matthews in which the author provides an introduction to linguistics. Reception The book was reviewed by Ute Römer of the University of Hanover, who wrote that Matthews "has performed the very difficult task of compressing a wealth of material and presenting it in a most accessible way", and by Cheryl Eason of Central Missouri State University, who wrot…

Key takeaways

Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction is a book by Peter Hugoe Matthews in which the author provides an introduction to linguistics.

Reception The book was reviewed by Ute Römer of the University of Hanover, who wrote that Matthews "has performed the very difficult task of compressing a wealth of material and presenting it in a most accessible way", and by Cheryl Eason of Central Missouri State University, who wrote "I would... suggest that a number of the ideas in the text be illustrated with examples from morphology or syntax rather than phonology. The phonological examples from English are limited in their effectiveness because English pronunciation differs so much from place to place."

See also Language: Introductory Readings

References

External links Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction

In research: Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2003 non-fiction books, Linguistics book stubs, Linguistics textbooks, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction in simple terms?

Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction is a book by Peter Hugoe Matthews in which the author provides an introduction to linguistics. Reception The book was reviewed by Ute Römer of the University of Hanover, who wrote that Matthews "has performed the very difficult task of compressing a wealth of…

Why does Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Linguistics: A Very Short Introduction.