Introduction to Linguistics

An introduction to the analytical study of human language and its use. We investigate both commonality and diversity in the systems of sounds, words, and sentences used in the world’s languages. We further examine the effect of historical events, cross-cultural perspectives, and social contexts on present-day languages as seen in slang, pidgins, creoles, language learning, and language extinction. Students work together in simulations of linguistic fieldwork exercises using the languages with which they are familiar to teach and learn from each other. Prerequisite: Any WC&IL I course