8 Linguistics
Linguistics (LIN)
Essentials of Linguistics∗
Catherine Anderson (McMaster University)
2018
Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
This Open Educational Resource (OER) brings together Open Access content from around the web and enhances it with dynamic video lectures about the core areas of theoretical linguistics (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics), supplemented with discussion of psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic findings. Essentials of Linguistics is suitable for any beginning learner of linguistics but is primarily aimed at the Canadian learner, focusing on Canadian English for learning phonetic transcription, and discussing the status of Indigenous languages in Canada. Drawing on best practices for instructional design, Essentials of Linguistics is suitable for blended classes, traditional lecture classes, and for self-directed learning. No prior knowledge of linguistics is required.
Formats: Pressbooks WebBook, EPUB, PDF, and MOBI
Includes: Videos, interactive assessments, and summaries
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
LIN 1315 Introduction to Linguistics
Languages and Worldview∗
Manon Allard-Kropp (University of Missouri–St. Louis)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Asking and answering questions about what culture entails and examines the fundamental properties and intertwining nature of language and culture. This text explores linguistic relativity, lexical differences among languages and intercultural communication, including high and low contexts.
Format: PDF
Includes: Videos, transcripts, and exercises
Suggested for:
LIN 2356 Conversation Strategies: Introduction to Pragmatics
Analyzing Meaning: An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics
Paul Kroeger (GIAL-Dallas International University)
2018
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This book provides an introduction to the study of meaning in human language, from a linguistic perspective. It covers a fairly broad range of topics, including lexical semantics, compositional semantics, and pragmatics. The chapters are organized into six units: (1) Foundational concepts; (2) Word meanings; (3) Implicature (including indirect speech acts); (4) Compositional semantics; (5) Modals, conditionals, and causation; (6) Tense & aspect.
Most of the chapters include exercises that can be used for class discussion and/or homework assignments, and each chapter contains references for additional reading on the topics covered.
As the title indicates, this book is truly an introduction: it provides a solid foundation that will prepare students to take more advanced and specialized courses in semantics and/or pragmatics. It is also intended as a reference for fieldworkers doing primary research on under-documented languages, to help them write grammatical descriptions that deal carefully and clearly with semantic issues. The approach adopted here is largely descriptive and non-formal (or, in some places, semi-formal), although some basic logical notation is introduced. The book is written at a level that should be appropriate for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. It presupposes some previous coursework in linguistics, but does not presuppose any background in formal logic or set theory.
Formats: PDF and LaTeX
Includes: Discussion and homework exercises
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
LIN 1315 Introduction to Linguistics
LIN 2356 Conversation Strategies: Introduction to Pragmatics
LIN 3315 Introduction to Semantics