Almost all activities, in all cultures and throughout human life, involve the systematic creation and perception of a wide variety of material signs, which we call language. Numerous theories, methodological tools, and practical applications have managed to shed light on different aspects of this complex subject. The book is an original introduction to the study of language, which attempts to orient the inexperienced reader to the subject and branches of modern linguistics. Its goal is to present, in a concise and comprehensible - but not simplistic - manner, the main findings of research, with an emphasis on language in its different manifestations as text, variety, and system. The second, revised edition includes rich material and examples, as well as questions that examine and expand on the issues developed in each chapter.