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.


LIGN101 home