LING 1110

What is Linguistics? How We Use Linguistics in Our Daily Lives

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

Have you ever wondered what linguistics is? Here is an opportunity to find out. This course introduces a wide range of topics about how language is structured and interwoven in our daily lives. We will pursue questions including the following: What does it mean to “know” a language? How do new words come into the language? Can the structure and meaning of language change? Why is English spelling so complicated? What does it mean to say that something is “right” or “wrong”? How do computers understand and produce human language? What are the pitfalls of translation? How is our identity expressed through language?

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Learning Outcomes

• Through the readings, lectures, discussions you will understand the multifaceted ways that linguistics is relevant to our daily lives.
• You will be able to identify the central questions that are the focus of linguistics.
• You will be able to address some of the common myths about language and controversies involving language.
• You will have been exposed to curricular offerings in linguistics.

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