This is a linguistics classic and a must-read for anyone wanting to delve into the history of linguistics. Just to be sure, however, this is a collection of notes from his course painstakingly collected into this volume by his students. The notes are based on a series of lectures, so it doesn't really read so much like a textbook.

If you're looking for a more specific understanding of general linguistics as the field stands today, I recommend picking up a contemporary introductory text and reading this after you've got a basic grounding in linguistics terms and concepts. ( )

Linguistics