SPAN 215N/SPAN 215Q The Science of Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide to Hispanic Linguistics

Linguistics is the empirical and systematic study of human language. In this course we focus on questions such as: How do linguists study language and what are the fundamental properties that all human languages share? How is Spanish different or similar to other Romance languages (and non-Romance languages)? What are the sounds of the Spanish language, and how can the study of phonology and phonetics help us improve our pronunciation skills in a second language? What are the patterns of word order and structure in Spanish, and how are these patterns similar to, or different from, English (and other languages)? How can the study of morphology (e.g. suffixes, prefixes, root words) help us hone our skills in reading and writing? How have Spanish words and sounds evolved over time from Latin, and how have other languages like Arabic and Greek influenced the Spanish we speak today? What are the linguistic properties of the diverse array of Spanish dialects across the world, and how do native Spanish-speakers change the way they speak in different social contexts? What are the other languages spoken in the Spanish-speaking world today, in particular, what are the contexts of bilingualism and multilingualism within the indigenous communities of Spanish-speaking countries? What is the current state of Spanish in the United States? What are the different dialects evolving currently in the United States, what public educational programs currently serve the Spanish-English bilingual communities, and how is this evolving over the next 30 years? If your goal is to study or work abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, or work with Spanish-speakers in the United States in your future career, then this class is for you!