Language can be studied from several angles. The one that focuses on the relation between language, thought, and culture is known as anthropological linguistics (AL). This text constitutes a basic introduction to the subject matter and techniques of AL. Traditionally, anthropological linguists have aimed to document and study the languages of indigenous cultures, especially North American ones. Today, however, the purview of this exciting science has been extended considerably to encompass the study of language as a general cultural phenomenon, and to determine genealogical relations among languages, so as to recreate ancient cultures through them.

The overall objective of A Basic Course in Anthropological Linguistics is to show how the technical methodology of linguistic analysis can help students gain a deeper understanding of language as a strategy for classifying the world. The text's underlying premise is that the distinction between language and knowledge is hardly ever clear-cut. Indeed, the two enter into a constant synergy - a synergy that defines the human condition.