Must also attend a discussion section.

Every language is a highly structured system that is nevertheless
subject to constant variation and change--because many of its parts
reflect cultural conventions, rather than unchanging natural logic.
L103 is an introduction to the systematicity as well as the
conventionality (and apparent arbitrariness) of Language in
general.  The topics covered therefore include the parts of language
(e.g., meanings, sentences, words, and sounds), the uses of language
(e.g., to facilitate conversation, to request information, or convey
emotion), and some of the ways in which languages are acquired by
children, processed by adults (plus children), and varied or changed
over time (by virtually everyone).