Science of Language

Description

In this course, we will undertake an exploration of human language as it is described and theorized about by linguists, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and educators. We will approach language in a rigorous manner, equipping students with the tools to evaluate and perform research in this exciting field. The initial focus will be on the various levels of linguistic description (sound, word, sentence, meaning, use). We will focus on such topics as the contribution of innateness to our knowledge of language, the status of human language among communication systems of the animal world, and the implications of linguistic research for theories of education.