Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics from Coursera

Everywhere, every day, everybody uses language. There is no human society, no matter how small or how isolated, which does not employ a language that is rich and diverse. This course introduces you to linguistics, featuring interviews with well-known linguists and with speakers of many different languages. Join us to explore the miracles of human language!

The Miracles of Human Language introduces you to the many-faceted study of languages, which has amazed humans since the beginning of history. Together with speakers of many other languages around the world, as well as with famous linguists such as Noam Chomsky and Adele Goldberg, you will learn to understand and analyse how your native tongue is at the same time similar and different from many other languages. You will learn the basic concepts of linguistics, get to know some of the key features of big and small languages and get insight into what linguists do.

This course gives an introduction into the study of languages, the field of linguistics. With the support of the basic linguistic terminology that is offered in the course, you will soon be able to comment both on variety between languages, as well as on a single language’s internal structure. Anyone who wishes to understand how languages work, and how they can give us insight into the human mind is very welcome to join.

The course is useful if you want to get a fairly quick introduction into linguistics, for instance because you are considering studying it further, or because you are interested in a neighbouring discipline such as psychology, computer science or anthropology. Furthermore, the course will help you develop analytical skills.

If you are curious to understand how language works and how it gives insight into the human mind, this course is definitely for you!

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Linguistics

In this first week, we will try to determine what makes language human: why do (almost) all human beings have a language, and what makes human language different from animal communication systems? We will furthermore discuss the many different places where linguists work, and the many different methodologies that they use for conducting their research. You will moreover get to know all the other participants in this MOOC: my students Inge and Marten, as well as the speakers of six different languages. Finally, don't forget to watch our first expert interview: Marten and Inge have talked with Dr. Victoria Nyst of Leiden University, who has enlightened us in the fascinating world of sign languages! For the assignments with the support of Ethnologue, please make sure to study the instructions listed in 'required and optional readings' of this module.

The study of sound: Phonology and Phonetics

In this module we will delve into what appear to be the smallest building blocks of spoken language: 'sounds'. As we will see however, all is not what it seems, as we will in fact encounter an even smaller building block of language, a true atom. Another interesting thing about this module is that as of this week our 6 informants will all only speak their own language. Naturally, there is also an interview with my very special friend Prof. dr. Claartje Levelt, whom I have announced before.

The study of words and sentences: Morphology and Syntax

In this module we will discuss words and sentences. All languages have them; but as I will illustrate, they can be organized in very different ways in different languages. I will furthermore demonstrate what cupcakes have in common with words in a sentence. This module's interview is with one of the most cited and re-knowned linguists alive, Prof. Noam Chomsky! Finally, our 6 language informants will provide us with information about the word order in their languages.

The study of meaning: Pragmatics and Semantics

This module deals with a topic which many of you find very interesting: meaning. How do we determine what a word means? To what extent does our language influence our thinking? How can we change the world with language? As usual, we also have an additional interview with an expert of the current module's theme: in this module Barend Beekhuizen talks to Inge and Marten about his work as a Leiden PhD student in computational linguistics.

Language in the Brain

This module features all of the well-known parts of the current MOOC. Informants tell us about speech errors in their native tongue, I discuss everyday mistakes with my students Marten and Inge, and we have an interview with Prof. Niels Schiller of Leiden University. He discusses with us his own research among others. We moreover go on a little outing, to see linguists in their natural habitat! Furthermore, thanks to our friends at 'Babel, -The Language Magazine' we have some interesting reading for you. For example, linguist Jörg Schwyter tells us all about how he had to deal with aphasia, and how that has influenced him as a multilingual speaker.

Language in the Society

In the previous modules we have dissected the structure of languages, but now we will study language in its real context: how does language change? How do people use language to be polite? Our informants are demonstrating their acting skills, and furthermore we have an interview with Prof. Adele Goldberg! She presents us with an alternative view of language, compared to the one as previously discussed by Prof. Chomsky in the third module.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces the study of language, linguistics, which has amazed humans since the beginning of history

Led by seasoned linguistics professor Marc Oostendorp of the University of Leiden

Offers a diverse array of multimedia, including interviews with well-known linguists, language speakers, and industry thought leaders

Provides opportunities to develop communication and analytical skills that are useful for any discipline and in everyday life

Covers a wide range of topics, from the basic concepts to advanced theories in linguistics, making it suitable for both beginners and those with a background in the field.

Requires students to actively engage with the material through assignments and discussions

Reviews summary

Beginner-friendly linguistics course

Learners say that this is a beginner-friendly course that provides a solid introduction to linguistics. They appreciate the engaging lecture videos and the thought-provoking discussions between the professor and students. Some learners found the quizzes and exams to be challenging, but ultimately found the course to be rewarding.

Perfect for beginners.

"This is probably the first linguistics course offered on Coursera."

"If my university studies allowed some time, I would like to fully engage with the material."

"I've always been passionate about language, and I am very grateful that this MOOC provided me with the opportunity to gain some beginner-level insights into the field of linguistics."

Lectures are short and informative.

"The course material is very engaging, and the instructors are fantastic."

"The lecture videos were fantastic - short, to the point, and giving a good general overview."

"The ideas and concepts are easy to understand and makes huge sense."

Exams can be difficult.

"The exams were not very easy and sometimes I have to take it 5 or more times."

"Some questions were reworded, but a lot of ambiguity remained."

"I had been really looking forward to learn linguistics, paid attention to the videos, read the additional material and, I haven't really had any difficulties with Coursera courses so far."

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 Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics with these activities:

Watch videos on the history of linguistics

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Gain a deeper understanding of the development of linguistics as a field by watching videos that explore its history.

Browse courses on Language Change

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Find and watch a documentary on the history of linguistics.
Take notes on the key milestones and figures discussed.

Review Steven Pinker's The Language Instinct

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Start the course by reviewing Steven Pinker's The Language Instinct to gain a broad understanding of the field of linguistics.

View Rationality on Amazon

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Read the first three chapters of the book.
Summarize the main arguments of each chapter.

Practice identifying parts of speech

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Solidify your knowledge of the basic building blocks of language by practicing identifying parts of speech in various sentences.

Browse courses on Parts of speech

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Take an online quiz on parts of speech.
Identify the parts of speech in a short passage of text.

Four other activities

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Join a study group to discuss course material

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Enhance your learning experience by joining a study group where you can engage with peers, share insights, and collectively reinforce your understanding of course concepts.

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Identify a group of peers who are also taking the course.
Schedule regular meetings to discuss course material.
Take turns leading discussions, presenting summaries, and facilitating debates.

Create a visual representation of the different branches of linguistics

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Deepen your understanding of the various branches of linguistics by creating a visual representation that showcases their interconnections and applications.

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Research the different branches of linguistics.
Choose a visual format, such as a mind map, flowchart, or diagram.
Create the visual representation, connecting the branches and highlighting their key characteristics.

Become a mentor for new students in the course

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Solidify your understanding of course concepts while giving back to the community by becoming a mentor for new students.

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Reach out to the instructor or teaching assistants to express interest in becoming a mentor.
Prepare materials and resources to support new students.
Schedule regular meetings with your mentees to provide guidance and answer questions.

Contribute to an open-source linguistics project

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Gain practical experience and deepen your understanding of linguistics by contributing to an open-source project in the field.

Browse courses on Natural Language Processing

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Identify an open-source linguistics project that aligns with your interests.
Familiarize yourself with the project's codebase and documentation.
Identify an area where you can contribute and make a meaningful impact.
Submit a pull request or issue to the project's repository.
Collaborate with other contributors to refine your contributions.

Career center

Learners who complete Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Linguist

Linguists study language. This course will help you develop the skills you need to analyze and understand language, which will be invaluable in your work as a linguist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the languages of the world and to communicate with people from different cultures.

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Philologist

Philologists study the history and development of languages. This course will help you develop the skills you need to analyze and understand language, which will be invaluable in your work as a philologist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the history of languages and to trace their development over time.

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Computational Linguist

Computational linguists use computers to process and analyze language data. This course will help you develop the skills you need to work with language data, which will be essential in your work as a computational linguist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are represented in computers, how to develop algorithms for processing language data, and how to evaluate the performance of these algorithms. This knowledge will help you to develop new technologies for language processing, such as machine translation and speech recognition.

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Natural Language Processing Engineer

Natural language processing engineers develop computer systems that can understand and generate human language. This course will help you develop the skills you need to work with natural language data, which will be essential in your work as a natural language processing engineer. You will learn about the different ways that languages are represented in computers, how to develop algorithms for processing language data, and how to evaluate the performance of these algorithms. This knowledge will help you to develop new technologies for language processing, such as machine translation and speech recognition.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Language Processing Engineer

Translator

Translators convert written or spoken language from one language to another. This course will help you develop the skills you need to translate accurately and effectively, which will be invaluable in your work as a translator. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the nuances of different languages and to translate accurately between them.

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Interpreter

Interpreters help people to communicate across language barriers. This course will help you develop the skills you need to interpret spoken and written language, which will be invaluable in your work as an interpreter. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to interpret accurately and effectively.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study human societies and cultures, and language is a central part of human culture. This course will help you develop the skills you need to analyze and understand language, which will be invaluable in your work as an anthropologist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the cultures of the people you study and to communicate with them effectively.

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Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-language pathologists help people with speech and language disorders. This course will help you develop the skills you need to assess and treat speech and language disorders, which will be invaluable in your work as a speech-language pathologist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the causes of speech and language disorders and to develop effective treatments for these disorders.

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Psychologist

Psychologists study the human mind and behavior. This course will help you develop the skills you need to understand how language works and how it affects the human mind, which will be invaluable in your work as a psychologist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand how language influences thought and behavior, and to develop new therapies for language-related disorders.

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Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) help people from other countries to learn English. This course will help you develop the skills you need to teach English effectively, which will be invaluable in your work as a TESOL teacher. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand the challenges that English learners face and to develop effective teaching methods.

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Documentarian

Documentarians tell stories about the world around them. This course will help you develop the skills you need to tell stories about language, which will be invaluable in your work as a documentarian. You will learn about the different ways that languages are used to communicate, how they change over time, and how they reflect the cultures of the people who speak them. This knowledge will help you to create documentaries that are both informative and engaging.

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Journalist

Journalists inform the public about the world around them. This course will help you develop the skills you need to write and speak about language, which will be invaluable in your work as a journalist. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to write and speak clearly and accurately about language-related issues.

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Educator

Educators teach people about the world around them. This course will help you develop the skills you need to teach people about language, which will be invaluable in your work as an educator. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to create lesson plans that are both effective and engaging.

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Writer

Writers use language to create stories, poems, and other works of literature. This course will help you develop the skills you need to use language effectively in your writing, which will be invaluable in your work as a writer. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to write clearly and concisely, and to create works of literature that are both engaging and meaningful.

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Lawyer

Lawyers use language to advocate for their clients. This course will help you develop the skills you need to use language effectively in a legal setting, which will be invaluable in your work as a lawyer. You will learn about the different ways that languages are structured, how they are used to communicate, and how they change over time. This knowledge will help you to understand legal documents, to communicate with clients and colleagues, and to advocate for your clients' interests.

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