Linguistics 102w Introduction to the Study of Language

Key Topics

1. What Is Language?

We begin by defining language as a symbolic, rulegoverned system of communication. The discussion includes the difference between language and speech, the role of arbitrariness, and the universality of certain linguistic patterns.

2. Phonetics and Phonology

• Articulatory and acoustic phonetics how sounds are produced and perceived.
• Phonemic inventories and distinctive features.
• Rules of stress, tone, and intonation.

3. Morphology

Study of word formation: roots, affixes, and the difference between inflectional and derivational processes. We examine typological patterns such as agglutination, fusional morphology, and isolating languages.

4. Syntax

Explores how words combine into phrases and sentences. Topics cover phrase structure rules, constituency vs. dependency, transformations, and basic word order typology (e.g., SVO, SOV).

5. Semantics and Pragmatics

• Meaning at the lexical level sense, reference, and polysemy.
• Compositional semantics how sentence meaning builds from parts.
• Pragmatic inference, speech acts, and deixis.

6. Language Variation

Investigation of dialects, registers, and sociolinguistic factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, and social class. Includes a brief look at language contact phenomena like codeswitching and borrowing.

7. Language Change and Historical Linguistics

How languages evolve: sound change, grammaticalization, lexical replacement, and the comparative method. Case studies include the Great Vowel Shift and the rise of modern English.

8. Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics

Examination of language acquisition, processing, and representation in the brain. Topics cover firstlanguage acquisition stages, bilingualism, and language disorders such as aphasia.

9. Applied Linguistics

Brief overview of language teaching, computational linguistics, forensic linguistics, and language policy. Demonstrates how foundational concepts inform realworld applications.

Assessment Structure

• Weekly Quizzes (20%) short online quizzes checking comprehension of lecture material.
• Midterm Exam (25%) multiplechoice and shortanswer questions covering the first half of the course.
• DataDriven Analysis (15%) students analyze a small corpus (e.g., a dialectal speech sample) and submit a 2page report.
• Discussion Participation (10%) active involvement in weekly discussion boards.
• Final Project (30%) a 8page research paper on a chosen linguistic topic, accompanied by a 5minute presentation.

Recommended Resources

• Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics Ohio State University Press.
• Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction William OGrady et al.
• Online corpus: BYU Corpus of Contemporary American English.
• Phonetics lab: Interactive IPA chart at ipachart.com.
• Podcast series Talk the Talk episodes on sociolinguistic variation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any prior knowledge of linguistics?

No. The course is designed for beginners. All key concepts are introduced from scratch.

Is the class fully online?

Yes. Live lectures are recorded, and all materials are accessible through the LMS. Weekly office hours are offered via video chat.

How much reading is required each week?

Approximately 3040 pages from the textbook plus one or two supplemental articles.

Can I use a different citation style for the final paper?

The preferred style is APA 7th edition, but MLA or Chicago may be approved upon request.

What accommodations are available?

Students with documented disabilities should contact the universitys accessibility office. Adjustments to deadlines or format can be arranged.