Playing with Words: The Linguistic Principles Behind Word Games and Puzzles

Catalog description

In this course, we explore the use of language in a domain which is fairly unlike ordinary communication: the use of language in wordplay, alternate languages, games, and puzzles. At one level, understanding aspects of linguistic theory can provide insight into the internal workings of these various forms of wordplay. On another level, wordplay and puzzles often intentionally subvert the grammar and other rules of ordinary language use and therefore can provide a unique lens into typically implicit grammatical knowledge speakers possess and deploy in all domains of language.