在各种语言中，情态词、连接词、条件词、知觉动词恐怕都是最生动、也是最难以把握其意义的词类。其意义的多歧性不仅困扰语言学家，也困扰分析哲学家。尽管如此，Eve E.Sweetser的论述仍然向我们证实了它们是可以被分析，而且可以是成系统的分析。
语义关系并非独立于人类的认知结构之外，包括这种结构的隐喻与文化方面。无论是词汇的多义性还是语用的含糊性，都会通过认知和言语过程的作用，为世俗的隐喻方式所定型。本书从多义现象入手，将这类特殊的词置于印欧语系的历史之下来探讨其语义结构的变化，提示了隐喻和文化在语认结构演变中的角色。
本书也将吸引那些从事认知科学与隐喻、哲学研究的学者。

《语用学》是《当代国外语言学与应用语言学文库》中的一本。《当代国外语言学与应用语言学文库》首批54种自2000年9月问世以来，取得很大成功，首印5000套供不应求，10月份便分开重印6000套。能在短短的几个月内出版发行如此宏大规模的语言学著作，这在我国学术出版发行史上是不多见的。自出版以来，许多单位和个人争相订购，研究生和大学生生把《文库》视为良师益友，教师无论老中青都把《文库》视为知识更新的源泉。实践证明，外研社推出的《文库》受到了国内语言学界和外语教学界的普遍好评，它将成为推动我国语言学教学与研究和外语教学与研究的一个宝库。 在成功出版《文库》首批54种的基础上，外研社现在又推出《文库》第二批58种。《文库》第二批具有五大特色：一、由58部英文原著组成，所覆盖的学科从首批的26个增加到现在的33个，新增学科包括语言学史、语言哲学、认知语言学、人类语言学、语言的起源、语法化学说等，能更广泛地满足读者的需求；二、收入了当代语言学大师索绪尔、萨丕尔、布龙菲尔德、韩礼德、乔姆斯基、奥斯汀、格莱斯、利奇等名家的最有影响的伤口具有更高的权威性；三、增加了牛津大学出版社、哈佛大学出版社等世界知名出版社出版的语言学经典著作；四、依然配有专家导读，专家的队伍比首批更为强大；五、世界著名语言学家乔姆斯基教授和我国著名语言学家沈家煊教授作序。

《普通语言学概论》内容简介：Linguistics is a wide-ranging discipline. Within its compass lie topics and questions far apart from each other, but all. nonetheless. relevant to our understanding of the nature, structure, use and history of human language. this new. fourth edition of General Linguistics draws these strands together into a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the subject. The book considers; semantics and pragmatics dialect and style phonetics and phonology morphology and syntax, with reference both to traditional and to current theories comparative-historical linguistics and linguistic typology linguistics' relation to other disciplines the practical applications of linguistics the 2.500 years of linguistic thought that lies behind what we do and think today .
The fourth edition of this respected textbook has been fully revised and updated. It introduces readers to important current and new developments, theories and insights. but always within the context of the basic body of subjects traditionally included in the comprehension of general linguistics. Aided by a thorough bibiography. this book will prove essential reading for all students embarking on linguistics courses at any level.
当代国外语言学与应用语言学文库

'Larry Trask's introduction to historical linguisties is what I've been wanting for many years: an introductory undergraduate textbook which presents the latest developments in historical research in a clear, exciting, and straightforward way.'
Dorothy Disterheft, University of South Carolina This book is an introduction to historical linguistics- the study of language change over time, written in an engaging style and illustrated with examples from a wide range of languages, the book covers the fundamental concepts of language change, methods for historical linguistics,linguistic reconstruction, sociolinguistic aspects of language change, language contact, the birth and death of languages, language and prehistory and the issue of very remote relations.
The book is thoroughly up to date, and covers the most recent work on the study of phonological change in progress, on morphological and syntactic change, and on typological approaches to change, It also addresses such reccent controversies as the Nostratic hypothesis and the Greenberg/Cavalli-Sforza work on language, genes and teeth.
A minimal knowledge of linguistic concepts is needed and the book is suitable for students approaching the subject for the first time. The exercises will be particularly useful to teachers and students alike. The approach is data-oriented throughout and students are encouraged to confront data, to spot patterns and to draw on their own knowledge of languages.