Linguistics: The Science of Language

From the 280-character limit on the social media site X to the 1,400-page literary powerhouse that is War and Peace, language is an essential part of the human experience. As an ever-growing field of academic research, linguistics uses rigorous methodology to study four primary aspects of language: phonology (sound patterns), morphology (word formation), syntax (sentence structure), and semantics (meaning). In this course, we will analyze language as a biological human instinct and as an important cultural artifact in human society. Investigating language through the lenses of psychology, vocal anatomy, cultural studies, and history, we'll discuss the universal qualities of language and the unique aspects of individual languages and dialects. Along the way, you will come to understand language as a force that dynamically shapes and is shaped by history, biology, class, status, ethnicity, gender, and institutions like the media and the law. You'll develop a mastery of tools like the International Phonetic Alphabet, and the ability to identify and assess rhetorical tricks used by advertisers, politicians, and more.

Typical Class Size: 16