Linguistics reading list

Reading list for new students on the BA and MA Linguistics degree programmes

The textbooks below were used in previous years. There may be changes in 2023/24 but the books below would still be useful. 

Study Skills

One of the following:

• Carey, Benedict: How we learn: The surprising truth about when, where, and why it happens
• Cottrell, Stella. The Study Skills Handbook. Palgrave.
• Northedge, Andrew. The Good Study Guide. Open University.

General background reading

• Pinker, Steven. The Language Instinct
• Fromkin, Rodman and Hyams: An introduction to language

BA Linguistics reading suggestions (provisional and subject to change)

PLIN0001 Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics A - no textbook

PLIN0061 Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology

• Rogers, Henry (2000) The Sounds of Language: An Introduction to Phonetics

PLIN0062 Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology B (in Term 2)

• Hayes, B. (2008) Introductory Phonology

PLIN0004 Introduction to Generative Grammar - the following free textbook is not mandatory but a good preparation and companion:

• Barrie, M. (to appear). Generative Syntax: A cross-linguistic approach. Language Science Press. Current access: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jvg6s3ysfj9ni77/20221110.pdf?dl=0

PLIN0007 Core Issues in Linguistics - none

PLIN0008 Introduction to Children’s Language Development

• William O'Grady (2005): How children learn language. CUP

MA Linguistics reading suggestions (provisional and subject to change)

NB: Textbooks for the specialisations will be made available at the start of teaching.

PLIN0048 Foundations of Linguistics

• Smith, N. V. (2004). Chomsky: Ideas and Ideals. 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press.

PLIN0045 Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics

• Grice, H.P. (1989) Studies in the Way of Words. Harvard University Press.
• Sperber and Wilson, D. (1995, second edition) Relevance: Communication and Cognition
• Zimmermann, T. and Sternefeld, W. (2013). Introduction to Semantics: An Essential Guide to the Composition of Meaning. De Gruyter.

PLIN0084 Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology

• Rogers, Henry (2000) The Sounds of Language: An Introduction to Phonetics

PLIN0047 Syntax

• Term 1: Haegeman, L. (2006) Thinking Syntactically.
• Term 2: Haegeman, L. (1994).Introduction to Government and Binding Theory. Blackwell.

MA Linguistics with specialisation in Pragmatics reading suggestions (provisional and subject to change)

• Wilson & Sperber 2004. 'Relevance theory' (published in a 'Handbook of Pragmatics' edited by Horn & Ward)
• Wilson & Carston 2007 'A unitary approach to lexical pragmatics'