LIGN 101 – Introduction to the Study of
Language
Winter Quarter 2006
Tu & Thu, 12:30-1:50 p.m. CSB 001
Instructor: Amalia Arvaniti
TAs: Peter Jenks and David Peterson
Prerequisite: None
Credit
units: 4
Section
ID: 551142
About the
course
This
course is an introduction to the study of language. The aim of the course is to
teach you the basics of how human language works and how it is studied by
linguists. You will learn how humans acquire language, and how they use it to
communicate with one another; how languages change and why; the differences
between human language and animal communication systems; the relationship
between language and writing; the relationships between the languages of the
world. You will also learn the principles of linguistic analysis, that is the
theoretical constructs that linguists use to analyze and describe language
structure at various levels (speech sounds, words, sentences). The aim is not
to exhaust any of these topics, but rather, to give you an overview of all of
them, and (hopefully) to interest you enough in language studies that you will
consider taking more specialized linguistics courses (almost all the topics
covered in this class are covered in more detail in advanced courses)
Sections: time and
place TBA
Sections will take place every week.
Sections
are not mandatory, but highly recommended, if you want to ensure good grades.
The purpose of the sections is to go over exercises and problems, ask
clarification questions, discuss the material covered in class, and do quiz and
exam reviews.