Udemy - Linguistic Theory Essentials Phonology to Semantics

What you'll learn
Analyze phonological patterns using phonemic analysis, distinctive features, and optimality theory.
Explain morphological processes including inflection, derivation, compounding, and reduplication across languages.
Construct and interpret syntactic structures using phrase structure rules, X-bar theory, and transformational operations.
Apply semantic models such as truth-conditional semantics, compositional interpretation, and thematic role analysis.
Requirements
Familiarity with basic linguistic terminology (phonemes, morphemes), intermediate English proficiency, and willingness to engage with formal theoretical analysis. No specialized software required.
Description
Welcome to "Linguistic Theory Essentials: Phonology to Semantics"! This comprehensive online course guides you through the fundamental theoretical frameworks and analytical tools across the core subfields of linguistics. You will explore the systematic patterns of sound in phonology, the building blocks of words in morphology, the hierarchical structures of syntax, and the formal models of meaning in semantics. Each module is designed to build your knowledge progressively and deepen your understanding of linguistic theory.In the Phonology section, you will learn to distinguish phonology from phonetics and analyze abstract sound units using phonemes, allophones, and minimal pairs. You will apply distinctive feature theory, feature geometry, and phonotactic constraints to uncover natural classes and syllable structure typologies. Advanced topics include rule-based generative phonology, autosegmental representations, metrical structure for stress assignment, and Optimality Theory with constraint ranking and tableaux evaluation. By the end of this module, you will be able to conduct phonological analyses that reveal the hidden sound patterns of any language.The Morphology section delves into the internal structure of words and morpheme behavior. You will differentiate roots, affixes, and bound morphemes, and distinguish inflectional from derivational processes. You'll examine morphological typologies - from isolating to polysynthetic - and explore allomorphy and morphophonemic alternations that condition form variation. Compounding and reduplication strategies will demonstrate how complex words convey nuanced meanings. Finally, theoretical approaches to morphology will introduce item-and-arrangement, item-and-process, and realizational models so you can compare and contrast major frameworks.In the Syntax & Semantics module, you will study syntactic categories, phrase structure rules, and X-bar theory to build and interpret tree diagrams. You will learn transformational operations in generative grammar, including movement types like wh-questions and passivization, and survey alternative approaches such as dependency grammar and HPSG. In semantics, you will grasp the difference between sense and reference, and apply truth-conditional and model-theoretic frameworks to formalize meaning across possible worlds. The principle of compositionality and lexical semantics topics-semantic fields, prototypes, and thematic role assignment-round out your exploration of meaning in language.Each lesson features clear explanations, real-world examples from diverse languages, and practical exercises to reinforce theory with hands-on analysis. By completing this course, you will gain the ability to critically assess linguistic models, articulate theoretical arguments, and apply formal tools to novel data sets.Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate linguistics student, a language teacher looking to deepen your expertise, or a professional researcher seeking a rigorous foundation, this course equips you with the analytical skills and theoretical insight to excel. Join us now to unlock the rich structure of human language and transform your understanding of linguistic science.
Who this course is for
This course is intended for undergraduate and graduate linguistics students, language teachers, and researchers seeking a rigorous theoretical foundation in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics.
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