In this class, we learn about the principles and patterns that govern how sounds function in languages of the world. At first glance, the sounds of language sometimes seem random. We will see how they exhibit a fascinating range of highly organized patterns, and we will learn how to analyze and understand those patterns, and how to use them to understand similarities and differences across various languages. We learn all this through the investigation and analysis of both classic and more recent phonology problems. Overall, the course focuses on problem solving in phonological analysis, presenting insights from current phonological theories and applying them to a range of natural language data. This course uses universal design principles, building in flexibility to class structure to accommodate students with varying needs.
4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-FR
In this class, we learn about the principles and patterns that govern how sounds function in languages of the world. At first glance, the sounds of language sometimes seem random. We will see how they exhibit a fascinating range of highly organized patterns, and we will learn how to analyze and understand those patterns, and how to use them to understand similarities and differences across various languages. We learn all this through the investigation and analysis of both classic and more recent phonology problems. Overall, the course focuses on problem solving in phonological analysis, presenting insights from current phonological theories and applying them to a range of natural language data. This course uses universal design principles, building in flexibility to class structure to accommodate students with varying needs.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.