Stanley Dubinsky has taught Linguistics at the University of South Carolina since 1991. He has lived 'a life in language,' with a BA in Spanish & Latin American Literature and Asian Studies (from Hebrew University – Jerusalem), an MA in Chinese Literature, and a PhD in Linguistics (both from Cornell).

• 1. Introduction; 2. Talking to Garfield: human and animal communication; 3. Did I hear that right? The sounds of language; 4. Twisted words: word structure and meaning; 5. How words mean: connecting words to meanings; 6. The rule of names: naming people, peoples, and places; 7. Fitting words together: phrase structure and meaning; 8. Meaning one thing, saying another: indirect speech and conversational principles; 9. Kids say the darndest things: children acquiring language; 10. Variety is the spice of life: language variation; 11. Making language visible: writing and writing systems; 12. LOL (Language Online): language in the digital world; 13. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

'This book introduces linguistics in a humorous way, using dad jokes, running jokes, and visuals to bring the subject to life. Viewing linguistics through humor makes what can sometimes be a tough subject more accessible and enjoyable - I only wish a resource like this existed when I was studying general linguistics.' Delia Chiaro, University of Bologna