This course examines spoken language from a formal, scientific perspective. The major concerns are the interrelated systems that comprise language, namely the phonetic, phonological, morphological, and semantic systems. Also studied are the regional, historical, and social variations of language. Primary attention is given to the English language, though examples of systems in other languages are also analyzed, as are the constraints of social situations and attitudes toward language and language instruction.

Prerequisite: COSK1221