Linguistics
Linguistics examines the nature of language and communication. Since language is so basic to human beings, the questions that linguists find worthwhile are related to almost all fields of study. By investigating how language is organized at the level of sounds, words, phrases, sentences and meaning, linguists hope to come to a better understanding of the special mental and physical endowment that humans possess which enables them to learn and use language as a medium of communication. Seen in this way, the study of the human language is, in the end, the study of the human mind. The study of linguistics prepares students for many professions including, but not limited to, speech-language pathologist, audiologist, second language teacher, interpreter/translator, professional linguist, neurolinguist, psycholinguist, editor, computer speech and recognition and lexicography. Speech therapists, language teachers, educators, lawyers, psychologists, social scientists, mathematicians, engineers, computer scientists and students of literature are among those who find different aspects of linguistics useful in their professions.
Sample first-year program for students interested in studying linguistics:
| Fall Semester | Winter Semester |
| Linguistics 1100 | Linguistics 1103 or 1104 |
| English 1080 (or 1020) | English 1101, 1102, 1103 or 1110 (or 1021) |
| A course in a second language | A course in a second language |
| A research & writing course | A research & writing course |
| A numeracy/science course | A numeracy/science course |
| A course in minor subject | A course in minor subject |
Linguistics 1100/2100
Language and Communication is a general and non-technical introduction to linguistic concepts which are important for understanding the nature of language, its change and its function for communication. Topics include: languages as structured systems; the systematicity of language change; the classification of languages into families and their geographical distribution; language, the brain and language disorders; the acquisition of language; and human versus animal communication.
Lectures: Three hours per week
Prerequisite: None
Note: Credit may not be obtained for both Linguistics 1100 and 2100.
Linguistics 1103/2103
Introduction to Linguistics: Morphology and Syntax is an introduction to the study of the meaningful components of words and sentences. This course will demonstrate the principles by which parts of words are organized into larger units (inflectional morphology and word formation) and by which words pattern into phrases and sentences (syntax). Synchronic and diachronic data from English and several other languages will be analyzed to illustrate how language is structured.
Lectures: Three hours per week and one hour tutorial
Prerequisite: None
Note: Credit may not be obtained for both Linguistics 1103 and 2103.
Linguistics 1104/2104
Introduction to Linguistics: Phonetics and Phonology is an introduction to the sounds of speech, their description (phonetics) organization (phonology) and interactions with morphology (morphophonology). The synchronic and diachronic patterns and regularities of language will be demonstrated through analysis of data selected from English and other languages.
Lectures: Three hours per week and one hour tutorial
Prerequisite: None
Note: Credit may not be obtained for both Linguistics 1104 and 2104.
