Introduction to Linguistics

Catalog description

A survey of phonetics (the study of speech sounds), phonology (the sound systems of individual languages), morphology (the origin and structure of words), Syntax (phrase structure and grammatical relations), Semantics (the study of lexical meaning), Pragmatics (the study of contextual meaning) and Sociolinguistics (the study of language in society). The approach to this course is practical, emphasizing problem solving, and providing the skills needed for analyzing the structure of English and other languages as a basis for any research or applied linguistics degree (e.g., TESOL). LNG 3000 Second Language Acquisition (3 semester hours) This course provides an overview of current research into how languages are learned. Variables such as motivation, age, first language, aptitude, identity, cognitive learning style, and classroom instruction are addressed, etc. Coursework emphasizes understanding contemporary theories and issues in SLA; highlighting these theories’ connections with particular teaching methods; learning how to analyze relevant SLA research; and connecting course content and principles with TESOL pedagogy and practice. Students learn to analyze written and delivered curriculum to identify methodologies motivated by various SLA theories. Coursework enables students to develop pedagogical practices and a teaching philosophy drawn from the theoretical insights gleaned from current SLA research. Prerequisite: LNG 2100 Introduction to Linguistics Cross Listed with TES 3105 Issues in TESOL.