Routledge Revivals

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Focusing on the concept of the 'remainder' in language theory, this book explores how language constructs meaning by distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant phenomena. It highlights the untidy, creative aspects of language use that encompass poetry and metaphor, which traditional theories often overlook. The author argues that any comprehensive account of language must acknowledge this remainder, examining the constraints imposed on speakers by social and psychological factors in their linguistic expression.