Introduction to Linguistics

AL 2000 is an introduction to the formal study of language. We investigate the nature of human vs. animal communication and survey subfields of linguistics including the structure of words, sentences, and sound systems. We examine society’s language use in phenomena such as slang, dialects, pidgins, creoles, and language extinction. Additional topics include the process of learning first and second languages, language change, and the relationships between languages. Students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through simulations of linguistic fieldwork exercises and responses to their own experiences with language learning.