Objectives:

• To introduce the student to the basic concepts in the study of language.
• To make the student aware of the features of human language.
• To familiarize the student with the different aspects of language
• To provide the student with the necessary skills to handle the course of Introduction to Linguistics.

Content:

• Definition of language; Origins of language; Speech vs. Writing
• Properties of human language (Hockett's Design features); Animal vs. Human language.
• Knowledge of language
• The social aspect of language
• Language and thought (Sapir Whorf Hypothesis)
• The historical aspect of language
• Language and the brain
• Language acquisition
• Second language learning