2025-2026 Catalog

COGS 333 Languages in the World: Universality and Diversity

Most people know at least one language. What can we expect in the structure of a language that we use on a daily basis? Going beyond that, what can we find in the structure of a language we are unfamiliar with? The class provides an overview of the world languages and language families. We will discuss the typological classifications of linguistic properties, investigate the mechanisms of language change and variation, and explore the unity and diversity of language systems. The lab sessions provide an introduction to the methods and hands-on training in analyzing linguistic data from a wide variety of languages in the world. Includes one three-hour laboratory per week.

Credits

4 units

Prerequisite

COGS 101, or LING 301, or permission from the instructor

Corequisite

COGS 333L

Core Requirements Met

  • Laboratory Science
  • Global Connections