Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Study of the structure of words, the change of meaning of words, the change in form of words. Examples from English, French and other languages. Breadth-Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is an introduction to linguistics through the medium of the English language. The vocabulary of English is studied and used to introduce linguistic principles and analyses. Topics to be explored will include the history of the English language, the history and structure of words, word relationships, and changes to words and word components.  

The majority of the words in English are not native English words but borrowed from Latin, Greek and French - about 80% of the entire English vocabulary. A great deal of the terminology (close to 90 - 95%) of arts and sciences, business and economics, and indeed much of the vocabulary of higher education, is based on Latin and Greek roots. An understanding of the core meaning of each root helps to unlock the meanings of thousands of Latin, Greek and French based words in English and provides the students with a more powerful and useful vocabulary, especially terminology, enhancing their formal and technical vocabularies, whether the students major in Linguistics, English literature, English language instruction, Communication and Psychology or Business and Economics, Arts or Sciences.

1.  This course may be applied towards the Certificate in Liberal Arts or the Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language, but not both.  

2.  Linguistics program students cannot count this course towards their breadth requirements unless in joint or double majors, an extended minor, or double minors program.  

3.  Students should familiarize themselves with the Department's Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities at http://www.sfu.ca/linguistics/undergraduate/standards.html.  

4.  A grade of “FD” may be assigned as a penalty for academic dishonesty.  

5.  All student requests for accommodation of their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes or no later than one week after a student adds a course.  

6.  Students requiring accommodation as the result of a disability must contact the Centre for Students with Disabilities (778.782.3112 or csdo@sfu.ca).

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

REQUIRED MATERIALS  

• McFetridge, P. A Linguistic Introduction to the Structure and History of the English Lexicon. SFU Publications. ·       
• Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary; 11th edition (2003) ISBN: 0877798095