SPAN 313: Introduction to Spanish Linguistics
Objectives
Presents the principal branches of linguistic study, as it pertains to Spanish: the sound system (phonetics and phonology), the structure of words (morphology), and the structure of sentences (syntax). Additionally, attention is paid to bilingualism, especially Spanish in the US, and how Spanish is spoken/written differently by various social groups (sociolinguistics) and in various Spanish-speaking countries (dialectology).
Learning Outcomes
1. Students distinguish between natively pronounced Spanish and English-influenced pronunciation.
2. Students describe the formation and structure of various classes of words.
3. Students describe the formation and structure of sentences, specifically looking at phrases and clauses.
4. Students recognize and describe various effects of language contact, specifically between Spanish and English.
5. Students distinguish between and name prominent features of various dialect of Spanish
2. Students describe the formation and structure of various classes of words.
3. Students describe the formation and structure of sentences, specifically looking at phrases and clauses.
4. Students recognize and describe various effects of language contact, specifically between Spanish and English.
5. Students distinguish between and name prominent features of various dialect of Spanish
Reflections
Language is a system that people use as a communication tool, and every language has its own definite set of rules to govern an infinite set of sentences. As we all know, native language is learned with unconsciously, therefore, we study linguistics in order to find out the function of a language and learn how to write and speak a language in the correct way. However, every language is changing over time, where there are new rules of formation and structure, new words, etc., so, as I go through this course, I was able to analyze deeply about the Spanish language. For example, I now know how to form words and phrases into a sentence, by using the correct conjugation and grammar (sample 1).
Throughout the course, I am not only learning the formation and structure of Spanish, but also the sound of the language. I learned that there are many dialects in Spanish (sample 2), such as Castilian, Catalan, Galician, etc., and with different dialect, the vocabulary and grammar are not the only thing that will be different than the others, the pronunciation is also different as well. Seseo and ceceo, for example, are the phenomenon that uses to distinguish the phoneme of “s” and “z”. Most of the Spanish speaking countries are neutralized to these two phonemes, where people distinguish between the sound of letter s and z, but some regions are using ceceo or seseo only, such as Argentina and Chile, both regions are using ceceo, which both letter s and z are pronounced like a "th" sound.
Overall, I was able to understand better about the Spanish language by taking this course.
Throughout the course, I am not only learning the formation and structure of Spanish, but also the sound of the language. I learned that there are many dialects in Spanish (sample 2), such as Castilian, Catalan, Galician, etc., and with different dialect, the vocabulary and grammar are not the only thing that will be different than the others, the pronunciation is also different as well. Seseo and ceceo, for example, are the phenomenon that uses to distinguish the phoneme of “s” and “z”. Most of the Spanish speaking countries are neutralized to these two phonemes, where people distinguish between the sound of letter s and z, but some regions are using ceceo or seseo only, such as Argentina and Chile, both regions are using ceceo, which both letter s and z are pronounced like a "th" sound.
Overall, I was able to understand better about the Spanish language by taking this course.