• Language is one of the most complex cognitive abilities humans possess. This course introduces students to the scientific study of language – its structure, functions, and its connections to human psychology and biology. We will explore the fundamental components of language and examine how linguistic data can be analyzed and interpreted through a scientific lens. • Language permeates every aspect of human life. From recognizing regional accents to enjoying wordplay, jokes, and social media trends, our everyday experiences offer rich opportunities to study language in action. This course draws on a range of real-world materials – popular culture, digital communication, and more – to debunk common myths and deepen our understanding of how language works. • The course is structured around short lectures paired with in-class activities and discussions. Active participation is expected, as we foster a collaborative, inquiry-based learning environment.

This course aims to: • Introduce the fundamental concepts and theories of linguistics. • Develop students’ analytical and critical thinking skills in working with language data. • Familiarize students with key subfields of linguistics and the historical development of linguistic inquiry.

• There are no prerequisites for this course. • This is an EMI (English as a medium of instruction) course, within at least 70% of class communication conducted in English. Please note that this course is not designed for English language learning. • This is a required second-year course for DFLL students and an advanced course in the NCSC program. Enrollment is open to students from NTU DFLL and the NCSC program. • If space is available, enrollment priority will be given to: DFLL second-years, NCSC students, DFLL minors, double majors, and transfer students. To add this course, DFLL second-years must present their student ID; NCSC and DFLL minor/double major/transfer students must provide program certification. A lottery system will be used on the first day of class to allocate any remaining seats.

• Textbook: Fromkin, Victoria, Robert Rodman, and Nina Hyams. An Introduction to Language. 11th ed., Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2018. Available at NTU Press Bookstore/Crane Publishing. • Course platform: NTUCOOL (https://cool.ntu.edu.tw). All course announcements, materials, assignments, and messages will be managed through this platform. Please check it regularly.