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Undergraduate Coordinator:
William Marvin
William.Marvin@colostate.edu

Undergraduate Courses

E320 Introduction to the Study of Language

1. General Linguistics
   
2. Language and Literature
   
3. Language and Society
   
4. Language and the Basic and Applied Sciences
   

An introduction to the descriptive study of language. The basic concern of the course is the structured (e.g., formal, systematic) nature of language in itself. Examples are drawn primarily, though not exclusively, from English.

All sections of the course cover a set of core topics:

1. The nature of language
   
2. The structure of language
   
   
   
   1. Phonetics: recording the sounds of languages
      
   2. Phonemics: sound systems in individual languages
      
   3. Morphology: the structure of words
      
   4. Syntax: the structure of sentences
      
   5. Semantics: the meanings of words in sentences
      
   6. Pragmatics: the use of language in context
      
   
   
3. Language variation and change
   
   
   
   1. Regional and social dialects
      
   2. Historical change
      
   
   
4. Writing systems
   
5. Acquisition of language by children
   

Each subsection may have different texts or assigned readings that reflect its orientation. Instructors may select and emphasize particular topics outside the core.

E320A treats the core topics (1-5 above) in considerable depth. Regular analytic exercises, using English and occasionally other languages, are assigned to relate theory to description. Students who do not have a specialized interest should take section A, General Linguistics. Section A is also recommended for students preparing to enter the M.A. program in TESOL.

E320B introduces core topics and relates them to such matters as meter and rhythm (phonology), style and complexity (syntax), anomaly and metaphor (semantics), portrayal of conversation and point of view (discourse), and the literary representation of regional and social dialects.

E320C introduces core topics, with further coverage of topics such as social variation (e.g., Black and Hispanic English), regional variation (e.g., women's language), pidgins and creoles, spoken vs. written language, nonverbal communication.

E320D introduces core topics, with further coverage of topics such as evolutionary and biological aspects of language and language acquisition, localization of linguistic functions in the brain, animal communication systems, psychological processing of language (perception and production), computer processing of language (e.g., parsing, speech synthesis, machine translation), and artificial intelligence.

Contact us: Through the mail at 1773 Campus Delivery, 359 Eddy Hall, Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1773. On the phone at (970) 491-6428. By email at english@lamar.colostate.edu.

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