Delivered at:: Department of Foreign Languages

Course type:: Compulsory course

When:: 1 year, 2-4 module

Instructors

Gorina, Olga G.

Pushkarev, Evgeniy

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

The course offers students an in-depth exploration of the fundamental principles and components that constitute language and communication. The goal of the course is to learn the core areas of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics, providing students with a profound understanding of how language is acquired, structured, and utilized. Within this course, students will examine the nature of human language, the variations among different languages and dialects, and its role in cognition and society. The curriculum includes practical applications of linguistic theories to real-world language phenomena, as well as opportunities for research and analysis of linguistic data. This course prepares students for careers in fields such as language teaching, translation and interpreting, computational linguistics, speech pathology, and other areas where a solid foundation in linguistic analysis is essential.

Learning Objectives

Develop a foundational understanding of core linguistic concepts: Students will learn and be able to define and apply key terms and concepts across various subfields of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
Acquire analytical skills for linguistic data analysis: Students will gain practical skills in analyzing linguistic data, such as transcribing sounds, identifying morphemes, parsing sentences, and interpreting meaning in context.
Understand the structure and organization of the lexicon: Students will be able to analyze word formation processes, identify semantic relationships between words, and understand the dynamic nature of vocabulary development.
Explore theoretical approaches to grammar: Students will be introduced to different theoretical frameworks for analyzing syntax and will be able to apply them to describe sentence structure and grammatical relations.
Recognize the interdisciplinary nature of linguistics: Students will understand the connections between linguistics and other disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, computer science, and literature, and appreciate the role of language in shaping human thought and culture.
Cultivate critical thinking about language: Students will be able to critically evaluate linguistic claims and theories, and to apply linguistic principles to analyze real-world language use.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Define and apply core linguistic terminology.
Analyze the morphological structure of words.
Parse sentences using various syntactic frameworks.
Explain the principles of semantic analysis.
Analyze language use in context.
Compare and contrast different linguistic theories.
Conduct basic linguistic research.
Demonstrate an awareness of linguistic diversity.
Apply linguistic principles to real-world problems.

Course Contents

1. Linguistics: Introduction. Language as a System
2. Linguistic Genealogies
3. Phonetics and Phonology
4. Morphology & Syntax
5. Signs and Semiotics. Meaning
6. Speech and Speech Acts
7. Sociolinguistics
8. Introduction to Lexicology. The Word as a Unit
9. Historical Layers of Vocabulary: Native and Borrowed
10. Lexical meaning: essence and structure.
11. Polysemy: nature and development
12. Homonymy: types and boundaries of the phenomenon
13. Historical dynamics of meaning: change and loss of motivation
14. Systemic relations in the lexicon: synonymy and antonymy
15. Productive and Non-Productive Word-Formation Patterns
16. Phraseology and the role of context
17. The Corpus Revolution in Lexicology: From the Word to the Statistical Unit
18. Neural networks as "living corpora": lexicology in the AI era
19. Intro to Syntax
20. Phrase Structure
21. Sentence Structure
22. Sentence Types and Clause Types
23. Transformational Grammar
24. Alternative Approaches to Syntax

Assessment Elements

Tests and quizzes
During the course, students are given short written or oral tests based on lecture and seminar materials. The number and format of tests may vary throughout the course. The tasks may include open-ended questions, multiple-choice items, matching exercises, short definitions, or problem-solving questions based on linguistic data. Tests may be announced in advance or conducted without prior notice. All test marks are averaged to form the final grade for this course component. A missed test is marked 0 (zero), unless the student provides valid evidence of illness or another justified reason and receives the instructor’s permission to retake the test.
Classroom participation and homework
Students are expected to attend all lectures and seminars, complete homework, and actively contribute to discussions. They should come to class prepared, having read or reviewed the assigned materials. During seminars, students are encouraged to engage with linguistic problems, analyse data, ask questions, and participate in collaborative tasks relevant to the corresponding topic.
Exam Module 3 (Project)
The Oral exam takes place during the exam session period scheduled by study offices. The Module 3 project serves as an integrative assessment of students’ knowledge and analytical skills in linguistics. The project may be completed individually or in groups of up to three students. It should demonstrate the student’s ability to apply linguistic theories and analytical methods to real language data. Projects can be theoretical, analytical, or applied in nature. Students are encouraged to use authentic linguistic material (texts, corpora, dictionaries, speech samples, etc.) to illustrate their findings.
Exam Module 4
The Oral exam takes place during the exam session period scheduled by study offices. It is conducted in English and assessed by the course instructor(s) or by the course commission board (see below). Each student receives two questions, where the first question corresponds to the theoretical material of the two modules (lectures) and the second question is based on the texts discussed at seminars. The questions are selected by the examiner. The student cannot ask for a different set of questions in exchange for a lower mark. The student may be required to answer additional questions on any theme studied throughout the course so that examiners could gain full insight into understanding of the material.

Interim Assessment

2025/2026 3rd module
0.3 * Classroom participation and homework + 0.5 * Exam Module 3 (Project) + 0.2 * Tests and quizzes
2025/2026 4th module
0.3 * Classroom participation and homework + 0.5 * Exam Module 4 + 0.2 * Tests and quizzes

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Herbst, T., & Walter de Gruyter & Co. (2010). English Linguistics : A Coursebook for Students of English. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=390973
Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2018). A Concise Introduction to Linguistics (Vol. Fifth edition). London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1775794

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Discovering sociolinguistics: from theory to practice, Smakman, D., 2018
Quantitative corpus linguistics with R: a practical introduction, Gries, S. T., 2011

Authors

Diugaeva Irina Dmitrievna
Ursul Natalia Valerevna

Bachelor’s Programme 'Texts, Languages, and Digital Tools'

Introduction to Linguistics