LTS 310 | Critical Introduction to Linguistics

This course is an overview of the scientific study of language and the sociopolitical phenomena associated with its use. The aim is to identify elements that are shared by all languages, as well as the range of devices and strategies that different languages use to perform the same function. Students will examine the definitional characteristics of language and general aspects of its structure and organization. We will also delve into issues related to the use of language, including how language users construct conversations, why and how languages develop dialects, and how language is learned. Finally, we will investigate and present information about diverse linguistic communities in the U.S.