Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language: Written by Steven Pinker, 1999 Edition, Publisher: Basic Books [Hardcover]

HARDBACK "UNCOMMON," SHIPPED FROM THE UK* Edition: 1st.* Impression: 2nd.* Date: 1999.* Pub: Weidenfeld & Nicholson.* Binding and cover condition: Dark green cloth covered boards with silver title to spine strip and none to face. Absolutely minimal shelf wear to head and tail of spine. No bumps or rubs, no other visible faults. VG++. * Jacket condition: Colour illustrated dust wrapper, green and white titles to spine and face. White ground. Not price clipped showing a shelf price of £14.99. No shelf wear but slightly faded spine. VG+* Contents condition: Ex school-library copy with usual stamps and labels. Coloured end papers (deep violet). Clean, crisp, tight and bright with minimal reading wear, no marks to text, no tanning or other visible faults. Very slight marks to all edges. VG+* Illustrations: Numerous b/w line drawn vignettes and strip cartoons within text.* Pages: 287 pp. text. lxvi pp. glossary, notes, references, index & blank pages at rear.* Description: A book about the ingredients of language. How does language work? How do children learn their mother tongue? Why do languages change over time, making Shakespearean English difficult for us and Chaucer's English almost incomprehensible? Why do languages have so many quirks and irregularities? Are they fundamentally all alike? How are new words created? Where in the brain does language reside? Steven Pinker answers these and many other questions with wit, humour and style plus a scientific attitude.* A NEAR VG++ ex school-library copy of the 1st./2nd. with only minor faults reducing it to VG+.*