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Introduction to Linguistics

Trevor Block

4.4

Based on 713 ratings

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Trevor Block

In this course, we look at the five major pillars of analytic linguistics. These five pillars tell us about the general properties of language and help us talk about the similarities and differences in languages.

The primary focus of the course will be teaching you the tools in our language toolbox using English. However, we will also look at different languages, such as Japanese, Marshalese, Khmer, Tagalog, and a few others.

The course primarily consists of videos, but I've included a couple practice exams that you can use to demonstrate your mastery of the course.

Even if you're not interested in demonstrating mastery, the content provided is incredibly interesting for those who wish to learn languages in the future. The tools you learn here will help you understand that not all languages have the same sets of rules and features, and that you can use that knowledge to help you learn other languages even faster. We discuss how you make sounds, how you put sounds together, word orders, conjugation, and more.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the fundamentals of language
Understand sentence structure and word order of various languages.
Classify words into nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, quantifiers, and adverbs.
Draw syntactic trees for simple sentences.
Understand the difference between entailment, implicature, presupposition, and contradiction.
Understand gricean maxims and when they are utilized or broken in conversation.
Identify the thematic role of words in a sentence.
Understand what affixes do and how they can change the meaning of words.

Identify morphological processes in languages across the world.
Understand the properties of vowels and consonants.
Read and write the international phonetic alphabet.
Understand how sounds interact with each other.
Use the features of sounds to create rules about how sounds change in different environments.
Attain the toolbox required to learn languages a little bit easier.
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Understand the fundamentals of language
Understand sentence structure and word order of various languages.
Classify words into nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, quantifiers, and adverbs.
Draw syntactic trees for simple sentences.
Understand the difference between entailment, implicature, presupposition, and contradiction.
Understand gricean maxims and when they are utilized or broken in conversation.
Identify the thematic role of words in a sentence.
Understand what affixes do and how they can change the meaning of words.
Identify morphological processes in languages across the world.
Understand the properties of vowels and consonants.
Read and write the international phonetic alphabet.
Understand how sounds interact with each other.
Use the features of sounds to create rules about how sounds change in different environments.
Attain the toolbox required to learn languages a little bit easier.
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Learn about the structure and content of this course.

The syllabus is attached.

We go over the general idea of each section in the entire course.

We look at word order in languages, what grammar is, and how we use rules to generate sentences.

We look at nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and more, as well as what constituency is.

We look at how we put trees together to make sentences, as well as adjuncts, complements, and specifiers.

We look at semantic notions, such as ambiguity, entailment, paraphrase, and contradiction.

We look at the four maxims of speech, as well as implicature and presupposition.

All words have thematic roles, so we learn to identify them.

We distinguish between free and bound morphemes, and then have a discussion about affixes.

We discuss the differences between derivational and inflectional morphemes, then take a look at other morphological processes.

We look at different processes that govern word creation.

We look at what phonemes are, show allophonic variation, and then discuss minimal pairs and complementary distribution.

We look at syllable structure and the sonority hierarchy.

We discuss phonological features.

We look at phonological rules and how we derive them.

The exam 1 is attached in the resource section.

The solutions to exam 1 are attached in the resource section.

The exam 2 is attached in the resource section.

The solutions to exam 2 are attached in the resource section.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

This course provides a strong foundation for beginners in linguistics

Explores the five major pillars of analytic linguistics, which are essential for understanding the general properties of language

Provides a comprehensive study of the core concepts of linguistics

Offers a unique perspective on the fundamental aspects of language

Taught by Trevor Block, an experienced and respected instructor in linguistics

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Reviews summary

Engaging introduction to core linguistics

According to learners, 'Introduction to Linguistics' provides a solid and engaging foundation in the subject. Many praise the instructor's exceptional clarity, highlighting their talent for making complex linguistic concepts accessible. The course is seen as highly beneficial for future language learning, offering a valuable 'language toolbox.' Reviews frequently commend the well-structured video lectures and the inclusion of diverse linguistic examples. While generally perceived as a comprehensive overview, some students note the pace can be challenging for absolute beginners, particularly in the phonetics and phonology sections, suggesting a need for more practical exercises beyond the helpful practice exams. Overall, it's a largely positive experience for those curious about language.

Included practice exams are a valuable tool for assessing comprehension.

"The practice exams were a fantastic way to solidify my understanding."

"The practice exams truly tested my knowledge and were reflective of the material."

"The supplementary materials for the exams are helpful."

"The practice exams are useful for checking understanding."

Course uses examples from multiple languages, enriching the learning experience.

"I found the examples from various languages, not just English, to be really eye-opening."

"I particularly liked the diverse linguistic examples."

"I felt the examples from different languages were a strong point."

"It covers a lot of ground effectively, providing a comprehensive introduction."

Provides a strong theoretical foundation for understanding and learning languages.

"I appreciate the emphasis on the 'language toolbox' which indeed feels very useful for learning other languages."

"This course has certainly ignited my passion for linguistics."

"I loved how they tied everything back to how language works in general, making it incredibly useful for anyone interested in language acquisition or just curious about how we communicate."

"It's a great starting point for anyone considering a deeper dive into linguistics or who wants a better understanding of language for travel or cultural studies."

Instructor excels at simplifying abstract and complex linguistic concepts.

"The instructor's explanations are incredibly clear, especially when dealing with complex topics like phonological rules and syntactic trees."

"The instructor has a true talent for making abstract concepts accessible."

"Absolutely loved this course! The instructor is phenomenal, explaining complex ideas with great clarity and enthusiasm."

"The way the instructor breaks down complex linguistic phenomena into digestible chunks is masterful."

Some learners wished for more exercises or deeper dives into certain topics.

"I wished there were more practical exercises beyond the practice exams to apply the concepts directly, especially for language learners."

"I felt the semantic and pragmatic sections could have been expanded."

"It might benefit from being broken into two courses or having more in-depth practice exercises after each lesson, not just exams at the end."

"Good if you have some prior exposure, maybe less so for absolute beginners."

The course can be fast-paced, especially for those new to linguistics.

"My only minor critique is that sometimes the pace felt a bit fast in the phonetics section, especially if you're completely new to IPA."

"I found this course quite challenging. The pace was too quick for me, particularly in the later modules covering phonetics and phonology."

"I think this course assumes a bit too much prior knowledge for an 'introduction'."

"I felt the pace can be a bit fast if you're a complete novice. It requires dedication to keep up."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Linguistics with these activities:

Read 'The Sound Patterns of English'

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Explore the detailed analysis of English sound patterns provided in this book to deepen your understanding of the principles governing sound systems.

View Vowels and Consonants on Amazon

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Read and take notes on the chapters
Complete the exercises and practice activities

Review Course Materials

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Refresh your understanding of the course concepts by reviewing notes, assignments, and practice questions to prepare for upcoming assessments.

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Organize and review your notes
Complete practice problems and quizzes

Classify Words

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Practice classifying different types of words, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, to strengthen your understanding of sentence structure.

Browse courses on Nouns

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Review the parts of speech
Identify different types of words in example sentences
Complete exercises and quizzes to test your knowledge

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Analyze Language Samples

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Gain practical experience in analyzing real-world language samples to consolidate your understanding of sentence structure, word usage, and other linguistic features.

Browse courses on Language Analysis

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Collect various language samples, such as texts, transcripts, or recordings
Identify and analyze linguistic patterns
Draw conclusions and insights based on your analysis

Learn about Affixes

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Explore different affixes and their impact on word meaning to enhance your understanding of morphological processes.

Browse courses on Morphology

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Research different types of affixes
Learn how affixes can change the meaning of words
Practice identifying and using affixes in context

Write a Short Story

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Apply your knowledge of sentence structure and word choice to create a short story, showcasing your understanding of language principles.

Browse courses on Creative Writing

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Brainstorm story ideas
Develop a plot outline
Write a rough draft
Edit and revise your story

Present a Lesson on Phonology

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Enhance your understanding and teaching skills by developing and delivering a lesson on a phonological topic, reinforcing the concepts covered in class.

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Choose a specific phonological topic
Research and gather relevant information
Design an engaging and interactive lesson plan
Deliver your lesson to an audience

Build a Phonetic Alphabet

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Create your own phonetic alphabet by researching and learning about different sound systems to enhance your understanding of sound patterns.

Browse courses on phonetics

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Research different phonetic alphabets
Design your own phonetic symbols
Test your phonetic alphabet on different words

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Linguistics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Linguistics.

Pragmatics and the English Language

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This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of pragmatics, covering a wide range of topics such as the history of pragmatics, the different theoretical approaches to pragmatics, and the applications of pragmatics in different fields.

Introduction to Linguistics

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Engaging introduction to core linguistics

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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