(Cross listed with Linguistics 4640/7640)

This course introduces some of the essential topics in morphology (word structure) and syntax (sentence structure) through problem-solving and analysis. Students will learn to construct linguistic arguments by analyzing the structure of words, phrases, and sentences in languages from around the world. The course prepares students to be able to analyze and discuss grammatical patterns with technical precision in any language.

Students will be assessed through regular homework assignments, two exams, and a final project that involves producing an original morphosyntactic description and analysis of an understudied language.

There are no prerequisites for this course, but it is recommended that students have taken one prior course in Linguistics, such as LINGST 1060, Human Language. A course on language structure such as LINGST 4600 Structure of American English or a language course that introduces grammatical terminology may be helpful but is not required. This course satisfies a core prerequisite of the capstone course of the Linguistics major, LING 4870, Field Methods in Linguistics.