What does "Linguistics" mean? Is it a lot of Grammar?

[Unix]

I've been admitted to two different university classes, both are about languages.
What is an "Introduction to Linguistics" -class? What I would need to know is - is it essentially a Grammar-class or not - or even about half of it? It's in the General Linguistics -section. Here is a description of the Department:
More on General Linguistics - Stockholm University - Department of Linguistics
I would be able to work more if I choose it, since it's 50% of full-time studies. It would also free up time for New Testament or Classical Greek-self-studies meanwhile, although I don't have too good self-discipline right now.

I have to decide which one at latest on January 16. 2014.

The other class I can choose is in the English Department and has very little Grammar but a whole lot of literature analysis (it's the first level university class) - which I take to mean mostly novels, and I dislike the idea of analysing novels - analysing prose would have been much better. It's full-time studies but I would be working a little bit anyway - the distance with subway between the university and work is bothersome though. I've never done full-time studies at a university before and can imagine it's much more demanding than the more-than-full-time college studies I've done.

But the main question is in which department do I get to study more Grammar - which is what I actually would need for further studies?
(I have a cold right now, it's wet outside and I don't have a commuter traffic ticket so I don't think I'll be bicycling there tomorrow to find out - and they are reluctant to answer these things on phone.)

 

[SprayedPaint]

Did you decide on taking the course?

How's it going (for all your classes)?

Need to get better at grammar? Ask God for the help. He will grant you the wisdom, homie. For real. He helped me, and has yet to disappoint me.

But, in my opinion, the best place to study grammar (of the English dialect, or any other dialect for that matter) would be simply by reading the bible. From the front to the back (just a little each day). No joke. I'd advise to stay away from the newer translations, simply because they seem to be verbose, or "extra wordy" (again, in my opinion). NKJV was good stuff, not that the choice itself really matters.

Let me know if I answered anything you needed.

I'm studying to be an elementary school teacher, and I'm taking "5 classes" this quarter. A few of which are half classes or whatever...

But yeah. I feel as though God has granted me some maad skill with this English grammar. So let me know if you need any help.

 

[Unix]

I have to choose one of the two different classes, can't read both. When I say full-time I mean it and both alternatives extend over the entire semester. NEITHER are part of an entity that I have to read, but standalone classes, especially the Linguistics one. I will most probably never read both classes but make my choice now.
What I need, is to gain added Grammar skills until I'm going to study Classical Greek as my only subject for a while.

How other studies went is irrelevant. I was in college until November 2013 - most of those classes were very easy and each and every class went well:

How's it going (for all your classes)?

 

[SprayedPaint]

Aight,

So. First of all, I do not understand your use of the word "read." You used it several times. Do you mean take? This would help me out.

Second, I will help you analyze the linguistics course description in the link you provided in your original post:

"We look at languages as systems" - systems are the independent, but interrelated elements comprising of a language. Elements of a language would include the study of accent symbols used in the written language (have you seen the arabaic written language?), as well as how they sound out those words. Elements of a language will also include sentence structure, how words are put together into a sentence PROPERLY to convey a meaning (so yes, right here is a major grammatical portion of linguistics, but across numerous other languages).

"how they vary (and do not vary) across the world" - this also suggests that you will be studying the variations and similarities in sentence structure (grammar), as well as written language structure across languages of the world. And although it won't be a focus on one particular language, I'd bet that they will use the English language as a continual reference to check for understanding since it's the native language here in USA (assuming you live in USA). This will indeed strengthen your understanding of the english dialect, in that you will understand more of how and why we place certain words at specific places in a sentence. (for example: some languages always place the verb -action word- always at the end of the sentence, and some always at the beginning, because that's just how they do it.)

how languages change over time, and how they are influenced by contact with other language; -for example, take a look at the old king james version of the bible, do you notice words that we do not use anymore in the English language? (that is just one small example). Another example would be like how the English language has adopted many words from other languages.

"we study how people use language in social interaction" -for example, how do you greet a friend? how would you greet the president? How would you greet a guy that's wacked out on pcp? I know, that last was a bad example, but I digress, you will study the variations in how people around the world and across differing languages greet these same people. And study more than simple greetings, but all social interactions in general.

"how language develops in children" - for example, children of asiatic decent, who have those symbol-written characters, usually tend to have more growth of the right side of the brain (the mathematical side) because of the way their minds have to process the information. That is just one example of many (which is very interesting).

"what goes on in the brain when we speak and understand language" -for example: consider what I said above for how children develop differently with a different given language. It's all about how we process the information. Probably in this area, you will also study what goes on in the mind of an adult who is learning a new language, who is struggling (not always struggling, but i digress) to put meaning to an entirely new set of words being spoken and entirely out of the normal sentence structure that that one person has been experiencing with their native language since being a child.

"and lots more" -always

In all. This WILL help your understanding of the english language. You will seriously draw new understandings of how our language works and WHY it works like it does. As well as drawing significant similarities between english and the other languages. This would be a very interesting course, and sounds like it would be much more help to you than analyzing literature. When I took Espanol in College I learned more about the English language than I ever did analyzing and writing essays. And all I was doing was learning new words in a different language. But I would hate myself if you took my word for it.

 

[Unix]

Yes, I mean "take":

Aight,

So. First of all, I do not understand your use of the word "read." You used it several times. Do you mean take? This would help me out.

I don't want to analyse literature, at least not novels:

This would be a very interesting course, and sounds like it would be much more help to you than analyzing literature. When I took Espanol in College I learned more about the English language than I ever did analyzing and writing essays. And all I was doing was learning new words in a different language. But I would hate myself if you took my word for it.

I still don't know whether the "Introduction to Linguistics" -class contains more than syntax (sentence structure) when it comes to Grammar. When studying Ancient Greek You don't study syntax until about a year from having started.

My only purpose is to prepare for all the Grammar when going to study Ancient Greek.

 

[ks777]

I did a linguistics class for uni, it was really hard. I only got 51/100, just scraped a pass, but I also forgot to do an assignment worth 10% lol. It's just a deeper study of language. We learnt phonetics, how proper sentences should look and what they need, and that's about all I can remember from doing it about 3 years ago... I guess it wasn't that hard, it just wasn't something I found easy either.

 

[Unix]

There are more replys to my question at: In which class can I learn more Grammar? - Logos Bible Software Forums

Right now I'm trying to reach the uni by phone and ask what the Linguistics-class is. They have just revamped the class.

 

[Unix]

I got hold of one amanuensis on phone who has able to tell me right away what the "Introduction to Linguistics" -class consists of:
* Parts of speech
* Word-phrases
* Syntax
* Data-linguistics
* Phonetics

I also asked the specific question whether there's tuition in different kinds of Pronouns and Verbs and the answer was affirmative.
(They have special software on the computers at uni, but for schoolwork to be done at home one can use own computer.)

I'm choosing this class.

 

[SprayedPaint]

Because I have a feeling that literature analysis class would have been a real downer.