Description

Course aims
The course is an introductory overview of Descriptive Linguistics. On completion of the course, students should be able to:
• Distinguish between the essential principles of phonetics and phonology in language - with English as the reference language
• Analyse linguistic data of various sub-fields- phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics
• Identify and explain features of the morphological and syntactic structure of English, analyse simple sentences, describe basic semantic concepts, explain basic semantic problems in English
• Differentiate language varieties.

Rationale
Introduction to Linguistics develops understandings of the various subsystems of the English language including phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. The course provides students with an overview of the field of English linguistics and equips them with basic skills in linguistic analysis.

Course synopsis
This course provides a general introduction to English linguistics, the scientific study of human language. It exposes students to the major core subfields of linguistics: morphology, phonetics, phonology, syntax, and semantics. This provides a necessary background for students as they advance in their study of the English language.