Aims

This introductory linguistics course aims to develop in the student an appreciation for language understood as a global, rather than simply a linguistic, system of signs.

Main themes

To develop such an appreciation, the students must grasp some of the essential concepts used to understand how language works, both internally (basic units and structures), and externally (in relation to other disciplines). The course will introduce these concepts and will lead into a reflection about the text and the image as the privileged system of signs of a culture, if not of ideologies. The course will also examine different artistic modes of expression.
The course consists in: 30 hours of lecture; 10 hours of tutorial; 30 hours of personal study.
Content: 1. Semiological approach (2h). 2. Internal description of language (10h). 3. Psychological dimension (6h). 4. The sociological and intercultural dimension (6h). 5. The historical and comparative approach (6h).

Content and teaching methods

This introductory course aims to develop a reflection on language. We will give an overview of the principal concepts to understand how language works (internal description of the language and relations with other disciplines: psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, intercultural approach and historical linguistics).

Other credits in programs