LING 450

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Introduction to Historical-Comparative Linguistics

Linguistics College of Humanities

Course Description

Theory and method of language change via comparison of daughter languages and reconstruction of their ancestral language: phonological, morphological, semantic, and lexical.

When Taught

Fall and Winter

Min

3

Fixed

3

Fixed

3

Fixed

0

Title

Explanation of Changes

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to explain how and why linguistic changes occur in phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and the lexicon.

Title

Comparitive method and Internal Reconstruction

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to apply the comparative method and internal reconstruction in order to hypothesize earlier states of a language and to examine the relatedness of different languages.

Title

Factors that affect Linguistic Change

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to explain how linguistic change is affected by language contact and psychological, physical, social, and cultural factors.

Title

Using Corpora, Texts, and Lexicons

Learning Outcome

Students will be able to use corpora, texts, and lexicons in order to obtain data on, and answer questions about, language change.