M4.1 - Introduction to linguistics

This course offers an introduction to linguistics, the scientific study of human language. Students will explore the diversity and universal traits of languages, with a particular focus on the sound systems of English. The course will cover major word-formation processes and provide insights into sentence structure. It aims to equip students with the essential tools for analyzing linguistic data. Emphasis is placed on five key branches of linguistics: phonetics (the study of sound production), phonology (sound patterns and mental representation), morphology (word formation), syntax (sentence structure), and semantics (meaning), including an exploration of pragmatics (language use). Additionally, the course will introduce various subfields such as diachronic versus synchronic linguistics, general versus descriptive linguistics, theoretical versus applied linguistics, and microlinguistics versus macrolinguistics. Consideration is also given to both traditional and modern schools of linguistic thought.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will have developed the following competencies:

• Articulate the methods and principles involved in the scientific study and analysis of human language.
• Explain the origins and fundamental characteristics of human language.
• Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the five main branches of linguistics: phonetics (sound production), phonology (sound patterns), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure), and semantics and pragmatics (meaning and use).
• Effectively use the terminology specific to modern linguistics.
• Differentiate between various subfields within linguistics, such as diachronic and synchronic, or theoretical and applied linguistics.
• Gain insights into the traditional and contemporary schools of linguistic thought.

Additionally, students will engage in practical exercises to apply their theoretical knowledge, critically analyze linguistic data, and develop a deeper appreciation for the complexity and diversity of human language.

Course Outline

I. Nature and Function of Language

1. The Origin of Language
• Explore theories regarding how human language may have originated, such as evolutionary, social, and cognitive perspectives.
2. Properties of Human Language
• Examine key features such as productivity, arbitrariness, and duality of patterning. Example: Discuss how arbitrariness allows the same concept to be expressed by completely different sounds across languages.
3. Knowledge of Language
• Understand how linguistic competence (innate language ability) differs from performance (actual language use).
4. Functions of Language
• Analyze the different roles language plays, such as expressive, informative, and directive functions.

II. Introduction to Linguistics

1. Definition of Linguistics
• Define linguistics as the scientific study of language structure, use, and context.
2. Traditional Grammar vs. Modern Linguistics
• Contrast rule-based approaches of traditional grammar with descriptive practices of modern linguistics.

III. Components of Linguistics

1. Phonetics
• Study of Speech Sounds
• Understand perception and production of sounds.
• Branches of Phonetics
• Articulatory, acoustic, and auditory phonetics.
• Phonetic Transcription
• Practice transcribing speech sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
• Organs of Speech
• Study articulators such as the tongue and lips.
• Consonants and Vowels
• Classify sounds based on manner and place of articulation.
2. Phonology
• Sound Systems and Patterns
• Delve into how sounds function within a particular language system.
• The Phoneme
• Explore minimal units of sound contrast.
• Allophones
• Understand how different sound variations do not change meaning but may signal regional accents.
3. Morphology
• Word Formation
• Study the structure of words through morphemes.
• Concept of Morpheme and Allomorph
• Example: Discuss the English plural morpheme which can be '-s,' '-es,' or an irregular form like 'children'.
• Types of Morphemes
• Lexical (root words), derivational (changes meaning), and inflectional (changes form).
4. Syntax
• Sentence Structure
• Understand how words combine into sentences.
• Immediate Constituent Analysis
• Break down sentences into parts to see how they fit together.
• Phrase Structure Grammar
• Use tree diagrams to visualize sentence construction.
5. Semantics
• Word and Sentence Meaning
• Study traditional and modern views on semantics.
• Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning
• Example: Compare the denotation of "home" (a place of residence) with its connotation (warmth, family).
• Semantic Fields
• Explore sets of related words or meanings.
6. Pragmatics
• Study language use in context, considering speaker intentions and conversational implicature.

IV. Subfields of Linguistics

1. Diachronic vs. Synchronic Linguistics
• Study language evolution over time versus its current state.
2. General vs. Descriptive Linguistics
• Broad theories of language versus detailed descriptions of specific languages.
3. Theoretical vs. Applied Linguistics
• Focus on abstract principles versus the practical applications of linguistic research.
4. Microlinguistics vs. Macrolinguistics
• Detail-oriented linguistic analysis versus broader social and cognitive contexts.

V. Schools of Linguistics

1. Traditional Schools
• Historical perspectives from Greek, medieval, Greco-Roman, Indian, Arabic, and Renaissance periods.
• Developments in the nineteenth century.
2. Modern Schools
• Structuralist School
• Focus on the systematic nature of language.
• Functionalist School
• Emphasis on language use and its functions.
• Mentalist School
• Study of language in relation to the human mind, such as the Chomskyan theory of generative grammar.