本書旨在引領初學者進入語言學的世界，以循序漸進的方式，從毫無語言學背景開始。目前，國內校園一般使用的語言學書籍都是在國外寫成的書，其不足之處，便是文中所舉的實例和語料來自世界其他各地，這對國內師生來說很陌生，因此較難達到良好的學習效果。

有鑑於此，本書特地以時下國內外通行的語言學理論為本，並且以國語、閩南語、客家語、原住民語（布農、泰雅）的語料與應用為實際分析案例，簡明扼要地 探索語言知識（linguistic competence）和語用知識（pragmatic competence）的內涵，並分析兩者之間的互動。

對於英語學習者而言，掌握英語語言學固然是焦點，但如果也能把相關理論應用在台灣的語言上做分析與研究，那麼不但能達到理論與經驗交熔的理想，也能讓 學習者瞭解將理論付諸應用的可行性。本書兼顧理論與語料分析，期望透過「做中學」的方式，能協助學習者解除心理的恐懼與障礙。希望本書能成為與語言相關科 系（如英語教學、華語教學、溝通障礙、聽力治療）的墊基教科書。

本書行文明朗簡潔，舉證與語料貼切，組織層次分明，即使是初學者，也能自行從閱讀中學會語言學的基本概念。書中列有國際音標與K.K音標之比較，並附Glossary名詞解釋。全書共分為12個Chapter。

This accessible textbook provides beginners of linguistics with a step-by-step guide to the world of linguistics in general. Most of the data are based on English, Mandarin Chinese, Southern Min, Hakka, and Formosan languages. The essential motivation is to arm students with basic knowledge of languages in Taiwan when they are taught how to investigate properties of English linguistics. Designed for beginners, A Course in Linguistics equips learners with enough empirical data to illustrate each terminology together with the fundamental theories that underline it. This book was written with an attempt to combine theory and practice, achieving the goal of learning through doing linguistics. It was set to solve the difficulties or problems of which most Taiwanese students are afraid, and hence to become a leading text for the introductory courses.

•    Accessibly written, and assumes little backgrounds for linguistics
•    In a brief and precise style, specifically for EFL students
•    Learning by doing, and hence providing a review for each topic
•    Rich in concrete illustration based on data familiar to learners
•    Well-organized in writing, equipping learners with critical reasoning
•    Trying to teach or help instead of reshaping learners in thinking