Cross-Listed as Linguistics 4600

This course examines various aspects of the English language from the sound system to the grammatical structure in order to better understand how English works. While our focus is on English, this course is also about language in general and the ways in which language is studied in the field of linguistics. You will gain not only knowledge about the English language but also an appreciation for the approach linguists take in analyzing their subject matter. The overarching goal is to promote greater linguistic awareness and to provide students with the tools needed to think about language from new perspectives. Course requirements include two exams and daily homework and quizzes. Also useful will be critical thinking skills and a willingness to recognize the relative insignificance of commas.