Introduction to Linguistics

Catalog description

This course introduces prospective and current linguistics minors to the interdisciplinary world of linguistics, investigating human language not merely as a tool for communication, but as a sophisticated cognitive faculty, a social artifact, and a dynamic medium of personal and political expression. By exploring the “how” and “why” behind our most fundamental human trait, students will transition from passive users of language to analytical observers of its internal mechanics. We begin by mapping the structural architecture of language-from the physical properties of speech sounds and signs, to the mental rules of grammar, and ultimately, to the nuances of meaning and social context. Simultaneously, the course interrogates how these structures enable complex thought and serve as the scaffolding for human identity. Beyond the mechanics, we examine language as a site of social contestation. Students will analyze how linguistic patterns reflect and reinforce power structures, exploring critical contemporary issues such as linguistic discrimination, the evolution of dialects, and the rapidly shifting landscape of AI-generated language. Ultimately, this course equips students with the analytical toolkit necessary to decode the hidden linguistic systems that shape our reality. Satisfies Linguistics minor requirement.