**Course Syllabus: The Structure of English**
**Course Title:** Introduction to English Linguistics
**Course Description:**
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the fundamental elements of English linguistics, focusing
on phonetics, phonology, and morphology. Through the lens of Thomas Edward Murray’s seminal work,
“The Structure of English,” students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying
principles governing the sounds and structure of the English language.
**Course Objectives:**
- To introduce students to the key concepts and terminology in English linguistics.
- To analyze the phonetic, phonological, and morphological components of English.
- To explore the relationship between form and function in language structure.
- To develop critical thinking and analytical skills through the examination of linguistic data.
- To apply linguistic theories to practical language analysis tasks.
**Required Text:**
- “The Structure of English: Phonetics, Phonology, and Morphology” by Thomas Edward Murray.
**Supplementary Readings:**
- “Introduction to the Phonology of English” by Rodney Huddleston.
- “English Morphology” by Laurie Bauer.
**Course Outline:**
**Week 1-2: Introduction to English Linguistics**
- Overview of the field of linguistics
- Basic terminology and concepts
- Introduction to phonetics, phonology, and morphology
**Week 3-5: Phonetics of English**
- Articulatory phonetics: the production of speech sounds
- Acoustic phonetics: the physical properties of speech sounds
- Phonetic transcription
- Vowels and consonants in English
**Week 6-8: Phonology of English**
- Phonological rules and processes
- Syllable structure
- Stress and intonation patterns
- Phonological variation and change
**Week 9-11: Morphology of English**
- Morphological structure: roots, affixes, and stems
- Word formation processes: derivation, inflection, compounding
- Morphological analysis and parsing
**Week 12-14: Applications of Linguistic Analysis**
- Language variation and dialectology
- Language acquisition and development
- Language and society: sociolinguistics perspectives
**Week 15: Final Project Presentations**
- Students present their final projects, applying linguistic analysis to a chosen topic related to
English language structure.
**Assessment:**
- Participation and class engagement: 20%
- Assignments and quizzes: 30%
- Midterm exam: 20%
- Final project: 30%
**Grading Scale:**
- A: 90-100%
- B: 80-89%
- C: 70-79%
- D: 60-69%
- F: Below 60%
**Note:** Office hours will be available for additional support and consultation throughout the course.