Inside Language
REVISED
Fall 2015 and Winter 2016 quarters
Taught by
This two-quarter program explores the fascinating world of languages. What do you know when you know a language? How do you get that knowledge? Are there properties that all languages share? How do languages change over time? Why are half of the world's languages now under threat of extinction? How are communities held together or torn apart by the languages they speak?
We will consider these questions and others through the lens of linguistics. Topics to be examined for fall include phonetics, phonology, morphology, language change, the history of English and English dialects, key issues facing multilingual communities, and language planning. In winter, topics will include syntax, semantics, pragmatics, first language acquisition, language and gender and linguistic politeness. We will look at well-known languages and lesser-known languages and discover why they matter in our lives today. Throughout the program, students will learn a variety of conceptual and empirical techniques, from analyzing speech sounds to interpreting the rationale behind current language policy.
This program will be an intensive examination of topics requiring a significant amount of reading as well as regular problem sets and essays.
Program Details
Fields of Study
Preparatory for studies or careers in
Location and Schedule
Campus location
Olympia
Schedule
Offered during: Day
Advertised schedule: First class of winter quarter : January 5, 2016 (Tuesday) at 10 am.
Books
Online Learning
Revisions
Date | Revision |
---|---|
November 17th, 2015 | This program will accept new winter enrollment with signature. |