Learning morphology: What makes a good textbook?

Focusing on one textbook, F. Katamba's Morphology, this review article examines basic desiderata and pitfalls of textbook-writing for the neophyte in morphology and in linguistics in general. A number of fundamental issues are addressed: coverage, terminology, readability, consistency, referencing, and accuracy. A few hazards in writing introductory textbooks are highlighted, such as the presentation of a number of alternative theories before a single theoretical approach has been firmly established, as well as the inclination to be comprehensive at the expense of cohesion and coherence, a practice which often leads to a proliferation of terminology and detracts from major insights.