Language and Its Structure I: Phonology
Phonology, the study of how sound systems in human languages are organized, is the focus of this MIT OpenCourseWare course (24.901). Students learn how sounds pattern within individual languages and how those patterns differ across languages, building toward the ability to sketch an analysis of an entire phonological system by the end of the term. The course develops analytical tools such as distinctive features, rule writing, and underlying representations, and pushes students to state descriptive generalizations precisely and to construct and evaluate linguistic arguments. Materials include lecture notes, problem sets with data from a range of languages, and assignments that build analytical skills progressively. Offered through MIT's Department of Linguistics and Philosophy, the course provides free access to all course materials with no certificate offered.