Almost all activities, in all cultures and throughout human life, involve the systematic creation and reception of a vast variety of material signs that we call language.

Numerous theories, methodological tools, and practical applications have managed to shed light on different aspects of this complex subject. The book serves as an original introduction to the study of language, aiming to orient the novice reader to the field and branches of modern linguistics.

Its goal is to present the main findings of research in a concise and comprehensible - but not simplistic - manner, emphasizing language in its various manifestations as text, variety, and system.

The second, revised edition includes rich material and examples, as well as questions that examine and extend the issues developed in each chapter.