English 401: Introduction to the Study of the English Language

Everything you always wanted to know about the English language but were afraid to ask, this course is an introduction to English linguistics.
Topics include the nature of language; how we acquire our first language and how we learn new languages; the sounds, structures, and meanings of English; the nature of conversation and other forms of scripted and unscripted speech; the relationship of speech to writing; language change; linguistic variety and the development of language standards; the language scene in the US today; the role of gender and social class in language; the nature of literary language; and the notions of correctness and standardization in language

Note: no previous study of grammar or linguistics is required for this course (but students with such experience are very welcome)

Dennis Baron

Mon Weds 11 - 12:15
108 English Building

office hours: M W 1:00 - 2:00 pm and by appointment
office phone: 244-0568

email: debaron@illinois.edu

syllabus

follow these links:

Segue login instructions

Esperanto

Sex and the semicolon

Macaulay, ch. 1 - 8 powerpoint

Semantics powerpoint

Pragmatics powerpoint

Variation powerpoint

the standard meter

Register and Style powerpoint

Stephen Pinker on swearing as magical

Language change powerpoint