From the Back Cover
Words in the Mind, is all about words: how we learn them, remember them, understand them, and find the precise ones we wish to use. It also addresses the structure and content of the human word-store - the ‘mental lexicon’ - with particular reference to the spoken language of native English speakers. Great strides have been made in our understanding of the lexicon since the first three editions of Words in the Mind were published, and it has developed into a major interest of study among linguists, psychologists, sociologists, and those who teach English as a second language.
In addition to numerous updates and revisions, this latest edition features a wealth of new material, including an all-new chapter focusing exclusively on the brain and language. Enhanced coverage is also provided on lexical corpora - computerized databases - and on lexical change of meaning. Many of the notes and suggestions for further reading are also expanded and updated. Written by a true master of making scholarly concepts accessible, the fourth edition of Words in the Mind remains a rich and revealing resource for students and non-specialists alike, presenting the latest insights into the complex relationship between language, words, and the human mind.
About the Author
Jean Aitchison is Emeritus Rupert Murdoch Professor of Language and Communication at the University of Oxford. She is the author of numerous books on language, including Language Change: Progress or Decay? (Third Edition, 2001), The Word Weavers: Newshounds and Wordsmiths (2007), Aitchison's Linguistics (Seventh Edition, 2010), and The Articulate Mammal (Routledge Classics Edition, 2011).
