Introduction to Linguistics
This MIT OpenCourseWare course examines what language is and what knowing a language actually involves. It covers how children acquire language, whether language is unique to humans, why languages diverge and change over time, whether any dialect can be judged linguistically superior to another, and how speech relates to writing. The material builds from basic analysis of sentence structure, word formation, and sound systems, requiring no prior background in linguistics. Course materials include lecture notes, problem sets, and exams drawn from MIT's Linguistics and Philosophy department, following the structure of an on-campus introductory course. The course is free to access through MIT OpenCourseWare, with all readings and assignments provided for self-study. It suits anyone curious about the mechanics underlying everyday speech rather than a single topic within language study.