This book is based on the results of research in language typology, and motivated by the need for a theory to explain them. The essence of the approach is (a) that almost all aspects of grammatical structure are language specific, and (b) that language universals are to be found in conceptual structure and in the mapping of conceptual structure on to linguistic form. It proposes intimate links between syntactic and semantic structures, and argues that the basic elements of any language are not syntactic but syntactic-semantic 'Gestalts'. Professor Croft puts forward a new approach to syntactic representation and a new model of how language and languages work. He covers a wide range of syntactic phenomena, illustrating these with examples that show the varied grammatical structures of the world's languages. The book will be accessible all linguists at graduate level and beyond.

Drawn from the successful "Basic Spanish Grammar," 6/e, and accompanying career manuals, "TheBasic Spanish Series" offer a flexible, concise prologue to Spanish grammar and communication. The series has been enhanced and updated to better address the needs of today's students, pre-professionals, and professionals who need a working knowledge of Spanish. The core text, "Basic Spanish," provides the essential grammatical structures needed for communicating in Spanish. The six worktexts, "Basic Spanish for Getting Along, Basic Spanish for Business and Finance, Basic Spanish for Medical Personnel, Basic Spanish for Law Enforcement, Basic Spanish for Social Services," and "Basic Spanish for Teachers," are communication worktexts that encourage students to use and practice the grammar learned in "Basic Spanish." The worktexts present realistic situations a student will encounter in everyday life when needing to communicate in Spanish as well as a variety of authentic workplace situations likely to be encountered by professionals, with attention to specialized vocabulary of each profession, dialogue completions, role-plays, and realia-based activities. "The Basic Spanish Series" offers flexibility for an array of academic, professional, and adult education settings. "Basic Spanish" can be used independently or with any combination of the six worktexts. "Basic Spanish" combined with "Basic Spanish for Getting Along" is ideal for an Introductory Conversation course, while combining the text with any of the career-specific worktexts serves students, pre-professionals, or professionals who need a working knowledge of the language in a short period of time. A comprehensive supplementspackage enhances the program and offers students and professionals helpful tools for developing their language skills outside of the classroom."Early introduction of essential communicative concepts" enables students to begin speaking immediately."Chapter-opening spread" orients and organizes students by previewing the chapter's "Objectives, Structures, and Communication; " highlighting a different Spanish-speaking country, with a profile in English and a map; and providing a legend of icons that indicate additional resources available with the program."Clear, concise grammar presentation" lists the grammar topic in English and Spanish, followed by explanations in English, language models in Spanish with translations and charts, and "Vamos a practicar" exercises for reinforcement of the material."Practical vocabulary presentation" contains lists of chapter vocabulary clearly divided into the following categories: Cognates, Verbs, Adjectives, and Other Words and Expressions--all containing translations with the exception of cognates."Cuanto sabe usted ahora? self-tests" offer assessment opportunities after every five lessons. Answers on the ClassPrep CD give instructors the option to cover the answers in class or provide students the answers so they can monitor their own progress."Para escuchar y entender section" reinforces listening through two types of audio exercises "Practica" (grammar exercises) and "Que dicen?" (listening comprehension)."End-of-lesson activity" provides practice of the active vocabulary introduced in each lesson, in the "Palabras y mas palabras" (words and more words), followed by "En estas situaciones," a pair/group activity that encourages students to applystructures and vocabulary learned in the lesson."Communicative activities" encourage practice of the grammar points through role-plays and group situations.

A handbook designed to provide the reader with the Spanish skills needed to communicate on the job site and effectively manage today's diverse workforce.