This volume refers to the theoretical and methodological framework encompassing some of the changes periodically taking place in linguistics. In essence, this collection of papers offers a top-down view on the current state of linguistics and its contribution to what has come to be known as "the society of knowledge", where knowledge has become the most valuable asset not only for research, but even for the corporate world. Under this very general framework, this book it is divided into four parts, with some world known scholars contributing in each part: (i) Cognitive Linguistics and Language Universals (articles by Francisco Ruiz de Mendoza, Enrique Bernárdez, Eva Samaniego, Pedro A. Fuertes, Marisol Velasco, Ricardo Mairal, and Teresa Solias); (ii) Languages in Contact (articles by Juana Liceras, Jasone Cenoz, and Félix Rodríguez); (iii) Languages for Specific Purposes   (articles by Teresa Cabré, Marie-Claude L'Homme, Sven Tarp, Eva Aamaniego and Pedro A. Fuertes); (iv) Language industries (articles by Tony McEnery, Costas Gabrielatos and Aquilino Sánchez).