Linguistics

Linguistics Syllabus Outline

1. Introduction to Linguistics

• Definition and scope of linguistics
• Branches of linguistics
• Prescriptive vs. descriptive grammar
• Language and communication

2. Phonetics

• Articulatory phonetics: how speech sounds are produced
• Acoustic phonetics: physical properties of speech sounds
• IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)
• Consonants and vowels

3. Phonology

• Phonemes and allophones
• Minimal pairs
• Syllable structure
• Phonological rules and processes

4. Morphology

• Morphemes: free and bound
• Word formation processes (e.g., derivation, inflection, compounding)
• Morphological typology (isolating, agglutinative, fusional languages)

5. Syntax

• Sentence structure
• Phrase structure rules
• Constituents and tree diagrams
• Transformations (e.g., passive, questions)

6. Semantics

• Meaning in language
• Sense vs. reference
• Semantic roles
• Lexical semantics and word relationships (synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy)

7. Pragmatics

• Language in context
• Speech acts
• Implicature and presupposition
• Deixis

8. Sociolinguistics

• Language and society
• Dialects, idiolects, and registers
• Language variation and change
• Multilingualism and code-switching

9. Psycholinguistics

• Language acquisition (first and second language)
• Language processing and production
• Neurolinguistics basics (brain and language)

10. Historical Linguistics

• Language change over time
• Sound change and reconstruction
• Language families and the comparative method

11. Applied Linguistics (optional, depending on course)

• Language teaching and learning
• Translation and interpretation
• Language policy and planning
• Discourse analysis