Linguistics (LING)
LING 2110G Introduction to the Study of Language and Linguistics 3 Credits (3)
This course presents an introduction to the study of language through the basic aspects of linguistic analysis: the sound system (phonetics and phonology), the structure of words and sentences (morphology and syntax), and the ways in which language is used to convey meaning (semantics and pragmatics). In addition, the course will investigate how language is acquired and stored in the brain, and how differences in speech styles and dialects reflect different social and cultural backgrounds of individual speakers.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basic concepts and terminology associated with phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
- Comprehend how language evolves over history and over an individual’s lifespan.
- Describe some common, but mistaken, beliefs about language and to distinguish between descriptive and prescriptive approaches to language.
- Describe the social, psychological, geographic and historical influences that lead to language dominance or language endangerment.
- Be aware of the relations among various languages in the world, between dialects and slang, and between human and non-human languages.
- Apply methods of linguistic analysis as introduced in the course.
- Critically engage with the works of linguistic researchers.
- Stimulate curiosity about language and what it reveals about the human mind.