3　The Argument and the Methodology of the Book

This book holds the view that the Jane Austen is highly sensitive to the art of language and she learns to say what she has to say through the medium of language. Her words are like falling drops of water, each running independently and remaining exquisitely a whole. This book carefully selects Austen's three representative novels of different stages, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion, each representing different interpersonal relationship, to do research into her linguistic features.

This book is first based on literature research by exploring the relevant works and critical essays on Jane Austen's linguistic study. Through the study of language of the three novels, this book seeks a deeper understanding of relationship between Austen's characters. It sorts out the linguistic evidence in the novel, analyzes it and makes conclusions to help with the understanding of three kinds of relationship between men and women, parents and children and female friends. In general, the methodology is qualitative and inductive.