This book explores the workings of language, explains the operation of language as a coherent system, and examines instances of effective as well as ineffective communication. Chapters deal with (1) a "meaning" approach to language and the relation of semantics to the communicator, (2) how language works and what makes it work, (3) how language means and ways in which it can be used meaningfully, (4) the nature of the sentence and means of interpreting sentences which reveal a disparity between form and function, (5) how words mean--designators, indicators, predicators, and expressors, (6) the language of value--good, bad, neutral, and mixed evaluations, (7) clarifying language--definitions and descriptions, and (8) some final thoughts about language and the words we think with. Each chapter includes applications for language user, and questions and exercises for college classroom use. (JB)