Introduction to Linguistics

Table of Content

Introduction

1. Nature of Language
   • Origin of language
   • Animal language
   • Language is arbitrary
   • Language change
2. Structural Grammar
   • Competence and performance
   • Deep and surface structure
   • Transformational-generative grammar
   • Syntax
   • Advantages and disadvantages of SG
3. Functional Grammar
   • Grammar and meaning
   • Form and function
   • Theme and Rheme
   • Accuracy or acceptability
4. Speech and Writing
   • Speech and writing represent different codes
   • Features of speech
   • Features of writing
   • A hybrid form: Netspeak
   • Confusion of speech and writing in textbooks
5. Pragmatics
   • Semantic and pragmatic meaning
   • Meaning and context
   • The cooperative principle
   • Politeness
   • Speech acts
   • Breaking of maxims in textbooks
6. Discourse Analysis
   • What is discourse?
   • Coherence
   • Cohesion
   • Discourse analysis and language teaching
7. Language Teaching and Learning
   • Traditional approach
   • Behaviorism
   • Communicative approach
   • Task-based approach
8. World Englishes
   • Varieties of English
   • Equal Status of all varieties
9. Computational Linguistics
   • Computer and speech
   • Computer and writing
   • Computer assisted language learning
   • Web-based language learning
   • Corpus linguistics