Yamaguchi's (National University of Singapore) textbook is designed for a course text for undergraduate students who have completed basic Japanese grammar and want to acquire more advanced and systematic knowledge of the Japanese language. No previous linguistic knowledge or training in linguistics is assumed. The textbook utilizes authentic texts that students might encounter in contemporary Japan, and covers aspects of Japanese phonetics and phonology, morphology and lexical semantics, and syntax. A forthcoming companion volume,Japanese Language in Use: An Introduction, will address pragmatics, discourse, culture and conversation. Includes both an English and Japanese index. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)