A self-contained introduction to language and linguistics, this book offers a unified approach to language from several perspectives. A language is a complex structure represented in the minds of its speakers, and this book provides the tools necessary for understanding this structure. The book is divided into three sections: sounds, words, and sentences. In each section, the foundational concepts are introduced along with their linguistic applications, giving this book a clear and unique structure. Each section is accompanied by extensive exercises and guidance on further reading.