175-036 Languages of the World

Formerly available as 175-326. Students who have completed 175-326 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Completion of 175-105 Introduction to Language or 175-106 The Linguistics of English or departmental approval.

This subject is a survey of the languages of the world from a typological and historical perspective, and of the importance of the different 'solutions' that distinct languages offer to the problem of solving the communication and other needs of speakers, approached as challenges to typologies of language on the one hand, and the task of describing individual languages on the other. The subject encourages students to develop a greater appreciation of the diversity of human language, and also of its universal characteristics.

• have developed their observation skills and attention to detail;

• have improved their ability to communicate information and analyses intelligibly and economically.

Three problems of 700 words each 60% (due at regular intervals during the semester) and a 2000 word essay 40% (due at the end of semester).

• W Croft, Typology and Universals. (2nd ed) Cambridge University Press 2002.