Overview

This course is a general introduction to the study of human language, both as an object of study in its own right and as a fundamental component of human cognition and socialization. We will examine linguistic sounds and sound patterns (phonetics and phonology), word structure and meaning (morphology and lexical semantics), sentence structure and meaning (syntax and sentence semantics), language learning, and language change (historical linguistics). We will explore these aspects of language by examining some of the properties of ten different languages and various English dialects and by manipulating some simple artificial languages. By the end of the course you should be aware of the fundamental similarities and differences among all human languages, be familiar with the main goals and methods of linguistics, and have an informed perspective on issues of language that have an impact on our society.

Sections

Lecture

Section 3004, 09:05A-09:55A MW, WH101

Discussion

Textbook

All of the readings for the course come from the online textbook How Language Works: the Cognitive Science of Linguistics (Gasser, 2002).

Instructors

Mike Gasser

• Brief biography
• Office hours: Tu 3:30-5:00, F 8-9:30; Lindley Hall 230H
• Campus phone: 5-7078
• E-mail: gasser @ indiana.edu (please put "L103" in the Subject line)
• Home page

B. J. Lim

• Brief biography
• Office hours: TuTh 1-2:00, lobby of Main Library
• E-mail: bylim @ indiana.edu

Mikael Thompson

• Brief biography
• Office hours: W 12-2:00, IMU Gallery
• E-mail: mithomps @ indiana.edu

Mark Van Dam

• Brief biography
• Office hours: MW 4-5:00, Ballantine Common Area (lowest level)
• E-mail: mvandam @ indiana.edu