This volume investigates the cross-linguistic variation in the form and function of commands, seeking to establish a universal typology of imperative speech acts. Edited by Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald and R. M. W. Dixon, the text synthesizes contributions from a global panel of linguists. The authors utilize a comparative framework to analyze how different languages encode directives, examining the intersection of grammatical structure, cultural context, and historical language contact.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational resource for students and researchers in linguistic typology. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the rigorous methodology applied to the cross-linguistic data sets.