Language and Linguistics: Course Topics
Day 1: Language Definitions
Day 2: Language in Action
Day 3: Language and Thought
Day 4: Language Differences
Day 5: Language Proficiency
Day 6: Language Learning
Day 1: Language Definitions
- What is a language?
- Where do languages come from?
- Why are there so many languages?
- What would a perfect language look like?
- What’s a linguist and what does a linguist do?
Day 2: Language in Action
- What does it mean to use a language and to use it correctly?
- How does a language differ among its speakers?
- What’s the difference between a spoken language and a written language?
- What’s the connection between a language and the culture which uses it?
- What does it mean to use a language and to use it correctly?
- How does a language differ among its speakers?
- What’s the difference between a spoken language and a written language?
- What’s the connection between a language and the culture which uses it?
Day 3: Language and Thought
- What came first: language or thinking?
- What does “knowing” a language mean?
- What’s the difference between studying and acquiring a language?
- How does the brain process language?
- What came first: language or thinking?
- What does “knowing” a language mean?
- What’s the difference between studying and acquiring a language?
- How does the brain process language?
Day 4: Language Differences
- What criteria are used to describe a language?
- How do languages differ on these criteria?
- How is language difficulty determined?
- Is English a complicated language?
- What criteria are used to describe a language?
- How do languages differ on these criteria?
- How is language difficulty determined?
- Is English a complicated language?
Day 5: Language Proficiency
- What does “knowing” a language mean?
- What’s involved in studying versus learning a language?
- How is language proficiency determined?
- Can a person be equally proficient in two languages?
- What does “knowing” a language mean?
- What’s involved in studying versus learning a language?
- How is language proficiency determined?
- Can a person be equally proficient in two languages?
Day 6: Language Learning
- How does someone learn their first language? How about their second or third language?
- Can adults learn a second language? If so, do they face any special challenges?
- What is the range of goals that are included under language learning?
- What are good/better/best ways to go about learning another language?
- Are you the same or different in another language than the you in English?
- How does someone learn their first language? How about their second or third language?
- Can adults learn a second language? If so, do they face any special challenges?
- What is the range of goals that are included under language learning?
- What are good/better/best ways to go about learning another language?
- Are you the same or different in another language than the you in English?
Click on the links below to view the materials and handouts for each day of the course.
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