Department of English > Courses
Course Details
| Summer 2013 | ENGL 614.1 | TTH | 2:00 - 4:40 | RH201 | Edward Callary | |
Title: INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICSCourse Description: Survey of language and language study: elements of language, language change, language universals, first and second language acquisition, dialects, language and the brain, development of writing and contemporary writing systems, non-human communication, language change. Recommended as a preliminary course for students with little linguistic background.PRQ: | ||||||
| Detailed Course Description:This is an introductory course in language and linguistics; there are no prerequisites. It is a survey course intended to acquaint you with the content and methods of modern language study. We will consider the basic assumptions of language study, basic concepts of language structure (phonology, morphology and syntax), first and second language learning, language and the brain, language universals, development of writing and contemporary writing systems (time permitting), world languages and language families, dialects, and language change. The course is descriptive rather than prescriptive; it is concerned with the nature of language and the ways in which people use (and manipulate) language. It is not judgmental or normative; no attempt is made to correct your language, nor are guidelines offered as to which usages are better than others. | ||||||
| Course Requirements:There will be several short (objective) tests, as well as regular assignments and exercises. | ||||||
| Required Texts:Bruce Rowe and Diane Levine, <A Concise Introduction to Linguistics. Third Edition only. | ||||||
| Default Webboard Location: http://webboard.engl.niu.edu/default.asp?boardid=0 WebSite not set. Please contact Instructor for information. |
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