Introduction to Linguistics: the Science of Language

Faculteit—

NiveauBachelor

Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

After completing this course students are able to:

identify concepts important to the different areas of linguistics.
identify the tools used for analyzing the properties of human language.
recognize methods of argumentation and testing of hypotheses within the different areas of the discipline.
recognize the empirical possibilities and impossibilities of natural language.
apply insights from linguistics in relevant contexts, in the classroom and outside.

Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

Written assignments and final portfolio (40%): Demonstrates students’ mastery of the concepts important to the different areas of linguistics, the tools used for analyzing the properties of human language, the methods of argumentation and testing of hypotheses within the different areas of the discipline, the empirical possibilities and impossibilities of natural language, as well as their capacity to apply insights from linguistics in relevant contexts, in the classroom and outside.
Test 1 (25%): Tests students’ understanding of concepts, tools of analysis, methods of argumentation and their ability to apply insights from the study of introductory material on phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax in relevant contexts.
Test 2 (25%): Tests students’ understanding of concepts, tools of analysis, methods of argumentation and their ability to test hypotheses relevant for semantics and pragmatics, sociolinguistics and language change, and language acquisition and psycholinguistics.
Participation (10%)

Content

The field of linguistics, the systematic study of language, reflects a combination of reasoning found in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Linguistics addresses the issues raised by questions such as:

What is language?
How does language work?
What properties do all languages share?
How do children learn language?
How do humans know what they know about grammar?
Where is language in the brain?
What range of variation is found among languages?
How do languages change?
What are the influences of society, culture, politics and gender on the language that we speak?

People’s ability to use language for a multitude of communicative and cultural purposes and the role of the study of language in the history of learning makes linguistics officially part of the humanities. However, the perspectives of social science and natural science are integral to the study of Linguistics as a whole. Social science disciplines contribute to the study of the relationship between individuals, language use, and society; and natural sciences contribute to the analysis of language ability and the extent of its basis in human biology.

Format
The class meets twice a week. Students are expected prepare for class by doing readings and viewing videos, as well as reviewing material and collecting data for practical work sessions. Classroom sessions typically alternate between lecture / discussion sessions and practical work sessions. Examples discussed in class and data analysed in the practical work come from a range of languages, in order to illustrate and reinforce fundamental concepts in the discipline. There are two in-class tests covering the concepts dealt with in the course, as well as regular written assignments coming out of the practical work sessions, which are to be compiled and submitted in a final work portfolio.

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