Looking back at the development of linguistics since it was first established at the beginning of this century it appears that this science has gone through many ups and downs during its brief career of the last seventy-five years. Every time a major breakthrough came along its way it appeared as if it would get uprooted. It has however withstood the storms and now it appears that its roots are quite firm in the Saussurean tradition. Inspite of his minor differences with Saussure the American linguist Leonard Bloomfield belonged to the same tradition. The paths discovered by these two thinkers, if followed with care. would still be enough to give us an understanding of what we have to do in this science. It is with the intention of acquainting students of linguistics with the fundamentals of this tradition that this book has been written. New developments in its field which came in quick succession from 1957 onwards have been judged in the light of this basic heritage.

**Contents and Sample Pages**