Language

Perhaps the single most influential work of general linguistics published in the twentieth century, Leonard Bloomfield’s Language is both a masterpiece of textbook writing and a classic of scholarship. Intended as an introduction to the field of linguistics, it revolutionized the field when it appeared in 1933 and became the major text of the American descriptivist school.

The book quickly became the primary text for the American descriptivist school of linguistics. Bloomfield’s clear, systematic methodology and focus on observable language data laid the groundwork for a new era in linguistic theory. His work, which covers a wide range of topics, from phonology and morphology to syntax and semantics, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how language functions as a structured system.

Through twelve detailed chapters, Bloomfield explores topics such as the sounds of language, the structure of words, and the organization of sentences. His emphasis on structuralism and the empirical study of language has had a profound impact on the discipline, making Language an essential reference for anyone interested in the history and development of linguistic theory.

As both an introduction for newcomers and a resource for more advanced students, Language continues to be a crucial text in understanding the scientific study of language and its ongoing evolution.

Leonard Bloomfield (1887-1949) was professor of linguistics at the University of Chicago and Yale University and the author of Language. Charles Hockett is the Goldwin Smith Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Anthropology at Cornell University.