Topic: Languages of the World

TimeDaysLocationInstructorGERCreditOPUS Class NumberSyllabus (Tentative)
12:50pm-1:40pm
MWF
Anthropology Building 107
Marjorie Pak. HSC. 42729 TBA.

January 12, 2011- April 25, 2011

Crosslisted: LING242-000.

Semester Details: This course will address a range of questions about language through an exploration of the following areas: language families and historical relationships, linguistic typology and language universals, sound and structural features of several of the world's languages, and writing systems. We will examine a geographically diverse array of languages and learn about such non-English phenomena as vowel harmony, noun incorporation, ergative absolutive case systems, and many others. Ultimately, this exploration will help us deepen our understanding of what all human languages have in common. The course has no prerequisites and is appropriate for any student interested in language structures and language relationships.

Required Textbooks, Articles, and Resources

  1. Comrie, Bernard. The World's Major Languages.
    ISBN: 9780195065114.
  2. Lyovin, Anatole. An Introduction to the Languages of the World.
    ISBN: 9780195081169.
  3. Additional required readings.
    Will be made available online

Recommended Textbooks, Articles, and Resources

  1. Comrie, Bernard. The Atlas of Languages.
    ISBN: 9780816051236.

Grading

Assignment/ExamDetails% of Total Grade
Homework Assignments
Presentations
Final Project
Quizzes

The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.