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We find many <wonders> in language use. For instance, comparing the two verbs “open” and “push,” why can we say “The door opened” as well as “We opened the door” while we cannot say “The door pushed” (cf. “We pushed the door”)? This book aims to provide readers with opportunities to think about the <wonders> of language from the viewpoint of how words and sentences are unconsciously processed in our minds. It has led to many questions in the form of [Q] scattered throughout the book: I hope that you will enjoy reflecting on these questions, preferably engaging the people around you in discussions. Another feature of this book is that each chapter introduces an experimental verification. I share my own experience of being awakened as a theoretical linguist to the fascination of experimental studies of language.
 
Although it follows the traditional approach of introductory linguistics in moving from smaller units to larger ones, that is, from sounds (vowels and consonants) to words and sentences, and then to language use, this book does not intend to cover all the necessary knowledge at the introductory level. Opportunities for readers to experience the pleasure of linguistic analysis are prioritized over comprehensiveness.
 
This book is based on the content of the courses that I taught at Komaba (College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo) to first- and second-year undergraduate students. In liberal arts courses for students who would go on to choose various fields of specialization whether in humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences, a pertinent question was: Where should I place the emphasis in teaching the rudiments of linguistics? The response was to focus on the above-mentioned <wonders> of language, which directly reflect the <wonders> of human beings. It is a well-known fact that only a small percentage of brain activity is conscious; however, many people believe that we consciously control the use of language, which is at the core of our intellectual activity. I hope that this book will lead you to rethink what you (human beings) are by actually experiencing the extent to which our language use is unconsciously controlled. It would be a great honor for me as an author if the readers would agree with my opinion on how remarkable the <wonders> of language and human beings are.
 

(Written by ITO Takane, Professor Emeritus / Project Professor, Center for Coproduction of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity / 2024)