Introduction and Objectives:

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the very basic concepts of language which have immediate relation to their ordinary as well as academic life, to sensitize students to the various shades & aspects of language and to show that language is not a monolithic whole but something that can be looked at in detail.  Serious theoretical discussions about these aspects have been deferred to subsequent studies of language at advanced level. The core components of linguistics: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, discourse and pragmatics will be introduced.

Course Contents:

1. What is Language?
2. Characteristics of Human Language
3. Origin of Language
4. Language Universal Tripods
5. Functions of Language
6. What is Linguistics?
7. Branches of Linguistics

                a. Phonetics & Phonology
                b. Syntax
                c. Morphology
                d. Semantics

        8.   Sociolinguistics/Psycholinguistics

Recommended readings:

• Crystal. D (1991), The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
• Farmer, A.K; Demers, R.A.A Linguistics Work Book
•  Kristen Malmkjaer (ed) (2000) The Linguistics Encyclopedia.Rutledge. London & New York.
•  Lyons.J.(1990) Language & Linguistics Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
• Aitchison.J 2000 Linguistivs (Teach Yourself Books)
•  Victoria, F & Roadman.R (1998) An Introduction to Language Harcourt Brace College Publishers, New York
•  Finch, G How to Study Linguistics: A Guide to Understanding Linguistics. Palgrave.
•  Formkin, V.A; Roadman, R and Hymas, M 2002. Introduciton to Language. 6th ed. New York: Heinly.
•  Radford, A.Atkinson, M.Britain, D.Clahsen, H.Spencer.A (1999) Linguistics: An Introduction. CUP
• Todd, L (1987). An introduction to Linguistics. Moonbean Publications.
•  Yule, G 2006. The Study of Language. 2nd Edition. CUP.