Welcome
Welcome to the Routledge English Language Introductions series companion website. This site offers an insight into the structure and content of this brand new series, providing access to Companion Websites for each book currently available in the series.
Do you struggle to find lively, accessible textbooks?Are you looking for books that develop self-study skills and promote independent learning? If so, then this could be the series that you have been looking for. Routledge English Language Introductions is a brand new series of textbooks which introduce core areas of language study and provide a one-stop resource for students.
Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject area, each book in the series:
- provides an accessible overview of the key topics
- is designed for flexible use: each unit can be followed section by section or read across sections
- includes activities, study questions, sample analyses, commentaries and key secondary readings - all in the same volume
- draws on a wide range of authentic texts to bring study to life
- includes guidance for further reading, glossary and index.
For students and teachers
The Routledge English Language Introductions are ‘flexi-texts’ that you can use to suit your own style of study. The books are divided into four sections:-
A. Introduction – sets out the key concepts for the area of study. The Units of this section take you step-by-step through the foundational terms and ideas, carefully providing you with an initial toolkit for your own study. By the end of the section, you will have a good overview of the whole field.
B. Development – adds to your knowledge and builds on the key ideas already introduced. Units in this section might also draw together several areas of interest. By the end of this section, you will already have a good and fairly detailed grasp of the field, and will be ready to undertake your own exploration and thinking.
C. Exploration – provides examples of language data and guides you through your own investigation of the field. The Units in this section will be more open-ended and exploratory, and you will be encouraged to try out your ideas and think for yourself, using your newly acquired knowledge.
D. Extension – offers you the chance to compare your expertise with key readings in the area. These are taken from the work of important writers, and are provided with guidance and questions for your further thought.
You can read this book like a traditional text-book, ‘vertically’ straight through from beginning to end. This will take you comprehensively through the broad field of study. However, the Routledge English Language Introductions have been carefully designed so that you can read them in another dimension, ‘horizontally’ across the numbered Units. For example, Units A.1, A.2, A.3 and so on correspond with Units B.1, B.2, B.3, and with Units C.1, C.2, C.3 and D.1, D.2, D.3, and so on. Reading A5, B.5, C.5, D.5 will take you rapidly from the key concepts of a specific area, to a level of expertise in that precise area, all with a very close focus. You can match your way of reading with the best way that you work.
The glossary/index at the end, together with the suggestions for Further Reading, will help to keep you orientated. Each textbook has a supporting website with extra commentary, suggestions, additional material and support for teachers and students.
Who Is The Series For?
Beginning undergraduates studying English Language and Linguistics and/or related courses such as Media Studies, Communication Studies and English Literature
Advanced undergraduates
EFL/ESL students at higher education colleges and universities, especially in Europe.
Peter Stockwell
Peter Stockwell is Professor of Literary Linguistics in the School of English at the University of Nottingham, UK, where his interests include sociolinguistics, stylistics and cognitive poetics. His recent publications include The Cambridge Handbook of Stylistics (2014), Cognitive Grammar in Literature (2014) and The Language and Literature Reader (2008).
Click here to explore the full list of Peter Stockwell’s Routledge publications.
Ronald Carter
Ronald Carter is Emeritus Professor of Modern English Language in the School of English at the University of Nottingham, UK. He is the Co-Series Editor of the Routledge Introductions to Applied Linguistics series and Series Consultant for the Routledge Applied Linguistics, Routledge Applied Corpus Linguistics and Routledge Corpus Linguistics Guides series.
Links
To give you the maximum value possible from the Routledge English Language & Linguistics website, we hope to be able to offer you links to many other sites of interest to those of you working or interested in the field. If you know of a site or run a site yourself that you would like to be linked here, please send an e-mail to info.linguistics@routledge.co.uk
Center for Applied Linguistics: This is the website for CAL, the Center for Applied Linguistics, a non-profit organization applying research information about language and culture to educational, cultural, and social concerns. www.cal.org/index.html
The Linguist List: The quintessential linguistics site with information on all aspects of linguistics ranging from job ads to computer support. Also includes a 9,000+ member electronic discussion forum. www.linguistlist.org
Linguistic Society of America: Of particular interest on this site is their 'Field of Linguistics' which is a brief but illuminating introduction to most of the major areas of linguistics. www.lsadc.org
The Translator's Home Companion: 'The single most useful source of information for the professional translator and those in need of translation services.' (Translator's Home Companion website) www.lai.com/lai/companion.html
BAAL - (British Association for Applied Linguistics): BAAL is a professional association based in the UK, which provides a forum for people interested in language and the applications of linguistics. www.baal.org.uk
ESSE - (European Society for the Study of English): European federation of national higher educational associations for the study of English. www.essenglish.org
History of the English language: A website devoted to the History of the English language with some excellent links to related sites. www.ebbs.english.vt.edu/hel/hel.html
Series Quotes & Reviews
A valuable resource for A level students, beginning undergraduates and their teachers. Clear information, examples and engaging exercises, with useful pointers to further enquiry.
Geoff Hall, Swansea University, UK
This innovatively designed series of coursebooks is not only an excellent starting place for beginners, but it's also a useful pitstop for instructors and more advanced learners. Each book renders an impressive range of theoretical perspectives both accessible and interesting, with key concepts and central issues clearly presented and rooted in contemporary data and analyses.
Crispin Thurlow, Cardiff University, UK
These very readable texts are immensely enlightening. Their supremely logical organisation makes it easy to select a specific topic and to work with it in great depth. The practical activities and closely argued associated commentaries are highly recommended, being well designed and effective aids to full understanding of points raised. The judicious selection of texts in the final section provides excellent support for taking the practical work forward.
Clive Grey, Edge Hill College of Higher Education, UK
The Routledge English Language Introductions series is a first-rate set of textbooks for students beginning the study of linguistics. The contributions have been meticulously planned, clearly structured, and written in an eminently accessible style to enable teachers to structure their courses lucidly with ample opportunities for student home study. To coin a phrase: Highly recommendable!
Richard Watts, University of Berne, Switzerland