Informações sobre o curso

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Everywhere, every day, everybody uses language. There is no human society, no matter how small or how isolated, which does not employ a language that is rich and diverse. This course introduces you to linguistics, featuring interviews with well-known linguists and with speakers of many different languages. Join us to explore the miracles of human language!
The Miracles of Human Language introduces you to the many-faceted study of languages, which has amazed humans since the beginning of history. Together with speakers of many other languages around the world, as well as with famous linguists such as Noam Chomsky and Adele Goldberg, you will learn to understand and analyse how your native tongue is at the same time similar and different from many other languages. You will learn the basic concepts of linguistics, get to know some of the key features of big and small languages and get insight into what linguists do.

This course gives an introduction into the study of languages, the field of linguistics. With the support of the basic linguistic terminology that is offered in the course, you will soon be able to comment both on variety between languages, as well as on a single language’s internal structure. Anyone who wishes to understand how languages work, and how they can give us insight into the human mind is very welcome to join.

The course is useful if you want to get a fairly quick introduction into linguistics, for instance because you are considering studying it further, or because you are interested in a neighbouring discipline such as psychology, computer science or anthropology. Furthermore, the course will help you develop analytical skills.

If you are curious to understand how language works and how it gives insight into the human mind, this course is definitely for you!

Resultados de carreira do aprendiz

44%

comecei uma nova carreira após concluir estes cursos

23%

consegui um benefício significativo de carreira com este curso

Certificados compartilháveis

Tenha o certificado após a conclusão

100% on-line

Comece imediatamente e aprenda em seu próprio cronograma.

Prazos flexíveis

Redefinir os prazos de acordo com sua programação.

Nível iniciante

Aprox. 23 horas para completar

Inglês

Legendas: Inglês, Romeno, Árabe, Búlgaro

Habilidades que você terá

Essay WritingHistoryEnglish LanguageChinese Language

Resultados de carreira do aprendiz

44%

comecei uma nova carreira após concluir estes cursos

23%

consegui um benefício significativo de carreira com este curso

Certificados compartilháveis

Tenha o certificado após a conclusão

100% on-line

Comece imediatamente e aprenda em seu próprio cronograma.

Prazos flexíveis

Redefinir os prazos de acordo com sua programação.

Nível iniciante

Aprox. 23 horas para completar

Inglês

Legendas: Inglês, Romeno, Árabe, Búlgaro

Programa - O que você aprenderá com este curso

Classificação do conteúdo96%(45,254 classificações)

Semana

1

Semana 1

4 horas para concluir

Introduction to Linguistics

In this first week, we will try to determine what makes language human: why do (almost) all human beings have a language, and what makes human language different from animal communication systems? We will furthermore discuss the many different places where linguists work, and the many different methodologies that they use for conducting their research. You will moreover get to know all the other participants in this MOOC: my students Inge and Marten, as well as the speakers of six different languages. Finally, don't forget to watch our first expert interview: Marten and Inge have talked with Dr. Victoria Nyst of Leiden University, who has enlightened us in the fascinating world of sign languages! For the assignments with the support of Ethnologue, please make sure to study the instructions listed in 'required and optional readings' of this module.

4 horas para concluir

15 vídeos (Total 76 mín.), 6 leituras, 1 teste

15 videos

Welcome to the Miracles of Human Language!3min

How to succeed in your online class?2min

Human Language and Animal Communication Systems6min

Human Language Versus Other 'Languages'9min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: Language Diversity9min

Language Diversity and Ethnologue8min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: What do Linguists do?13min

Interview with Dr. Victoria Nyst10min

Introduction language informants + introducing Han Hu, Speaker of Mandarin Chinese4min

Introducing Roberta D'Alessandro, speaker of Abruzzese48s

Introducing Khalid Mourigh, speaker of Tarifit Berber51s

Introducing Varun DeCastro-Arrazola, speaker of Basque1min

Introducing Beste Sevindik, speaker of Turkish1min

Introducing Enoch Aboh, speaker of Gungbe1min

Conclusion; language and dialect2min

6 leituras

Meet the instructor & his team5min

Leiden University: Facts & Figures10min

Community Guidelines 5min

What is your learning path?5min

Registration Ethnologue10min

Required and optional readings30min

1 exercício prático

Test your knowledge 130min

Semana

2

Semana 2

2 horas para concluir

The study of sound: Phonology and Phonetics

In this module we will delve into what appear to be the smallest building blocks of spoken language: 'sounds'. As we will see however, all is not what it seems, as we will in fact encounter an even smaller building block of language, a true atom. Another interesting thing about this module is that as of this week our 6 informants will all only speak their own language. Naturally, there is also an interview with my very special friend Prof. dr. Claartje Levelt, whom I have announced before.

2 horas para concluir

13 vídeos (Total 62 mín.), 1 leitura, 1 teste

13 videos

Distinguishing consonants6min

Production of speech sounds7min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: consonants of world languages8min

Sounds in systems7min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: sounds and language change11min

Interview with Prof. dr. Claartje Levelt7min

Introduction + Tarifit Berber4min

Gungbe1min

Turkish1min

Abruzzese1min

Mandarin Chinese1min

Basque1min

Conclusion; sounds and gestures1min

1 leituras

Required and optional readings30min

1 exercício prático

Test your knowledge 230min

Semana

3

Semana 3

5 horas para concluir

The study of words and sentences: Morphology and Syntax

In this module we will discuss words and sentences. All languages have them; but as I will illustrate, they can be organized in very different ways in different languages. I will furthermore demonstrate what cupcakes have in common with words in a sentence. This module's interview is with one of the most cited and re-knowned linguists alive, Prof. Noam Chomsky! Finally, our 6 language informants will provide us with information about the word order in their languages.

5 horas para concluir

14 vídeos (Total 86 mín.), 1 leitura, 2 testes

14 videos

Words and sentences3min

Morphology9min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: world of words11min

Syntax and word order (a)8min

Syntax and word order (b)5min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: world of word order8min

Interview with Prof. Noam Chomsky28min

Introduction + Basque3min

Tarifit Berber2min

Gungbe1min

Turkish58s

Abruzzese1min

Mandarin Chinese55s

Conclusion; structure beyond sentences1min

1 leituras

Required and optional readings1h

1 exercício prático

Test your knowledge 330min

Semana

4

Semana 4

3 horas para concluir

The study of meaning: Pragmatics and Semantics

This module deals with a topic which many of you find very interesting: meaning. How do we determine what a word means? To what extent does our language influence our thinking? How can we change the world with language? As usual, we also have an additional interview with an expert of the current module's theme: in this module Barend Beekhuizen talks to Inge and Marten about his work as a Leiden PhD student in computational linguistics.

3 horas para concluir

13 vídeos (Total 66 mín.), 2 leituras, 1 teste

13 videos

Layers of meaning5min

Semantics7min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: color and snow10min

Pragmatics11min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: changing the world with sentences9min

Interview with Barend Beekhuizen MA11min

Introduction + Abruzzese1min

Tarifit Berber1min

Turkish1min

Basque52s

Mandarin Chinese2min

Gungbe1min

Conclusion; untranslatable words?1min

2 leituras

Required and optional readings1h

Quiz readings10min

1 exercício prático

Test your knowledge 430min

Semana

5

Semana 5

3 horas para concluir

Language in the Brain

This module features all of the well-known parts of the current MOOC. Informants tell us about speech errors in their native tongue, I discuss everyday mistakes with my students Marten and Inge, and we have an interview with Prof. Niels Schiller of Leiden University. He discusses with us his own research among others. We moreover go on a little outing, to see linguists in their natural habitat! Furthermore, thanks to our friends at 'Babel, -The Language Magazine' we have some interesting reading for you. For example, linguist Jörg Schwyter tells us all about how he had to deal with aphasia, and how that has influenced him as a multilingual speaker.

3 horas para concluir

11 vídeos (Total 74 mín.), 2 leituras, 1 teste

11 videos

Introduction6min

Aphasia8min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: everyday mistakes and the Foreign Accent Syndrome12min

Reading in the brain10min

Visiting the lab12min

Interview with Prof. Dr. Niels Schiller14min

Introduction + Turkish4min

Tarifit Berber1min

Abruzzese44s

Basque1min

Conclusion; dyslexia1min

2 leituras

Required and optional readings30min

Crowdfunding credits2min

1 exercício prático

Test your knowledge 530min

Semana

6

Semana 6

5 horas para concluir

Language in the Society

In the previous modules we have dissected the structure of languages, but now we will study language in its real context: how does language change? How do people use language to be polite? Our informants are demonstrating their acting skills, and furthermore we have an interview with Prof. Adele Goldberg! She presents us with an alternative view of language, compared to the one as previously discussed by Prof. Chomsky in the third module.

5 horas para concluir

13 vídeos (Total 85 mín.), 1 leitura, 3 testes

13 videos

Language change and variation8min

Social stratification11min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: social variables11min

Politeness10min

Discussion with Marten and Inge: examples of Face13min

Interview with Prof. Adele Goldberg14min

Introduction + Gungbe2min

Tarifit Berber58s

Turkish1min

Abruzzese1min

Mandarin Chinese3min

Basque1min

Conclusion; how personal are politeness strategies?2min

1 leituras

Required and optional readings1h

2 exercícios práticos

Test your knowledge 630min

Final exam30min

Perguntas Frequentes – FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?

You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.
Is financial aid available?

Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.

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Milagres da Linguagem Humana: Introdução à Lingüística