A companion for students undertaking a piece of independent research for the first time. It introduces the most commonly used tools and techniques of research and offers practical advice on how to choose a research topic, how to collect data, how to analyze it and how to write up the results. Sections on the main areas of linguistics discuss problems of research that are specific to the topic, and there are appendices on plagiarism, referencing, writing academic English, and the use of corpora, amongst others. The work seeks to bridge the gap between what research methods textbooks cover and what students need to know in order to conduct research successfully at undergraduate level.

Drawing on a vast range of data and examples of language in its many forms, this book provides students with the tools they need to analyze real language in diverse contexts. Designed to be highly adaptable for course use, the authors suggest a range of different routes through the book. Introducing Language in Use: covers all the core areas and topics of language study: language, semiotics and communication, grammar, phonetics, words, semantics, variety in language, history of English, World Englishes and multilingualism adopts a 'how to' approach, encouraging students to apply their knowledge as they learn it draws on examples of language from around the world in forms ranging from conversation to advertising and text messaging, always giving precedence to real language in use includes activities throughout the text with commentaries, summaries, suggestions for further reading and an extensive glossary of terms features a final unit which provides students with extensive practice in analyzing language in use is supported by a companion website, offering extra resources for students and lecturers. This is an essential coursebook for all introductory courses in English language,  communication and linguistics. The accompanying website can be found at www.routledge.co.uk/textbooks/0415291798.