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Welcome to Introduction to Dutch Linguistics

In order to understand the culture and language of the Netherlands it is important to read and learn about the Netherlands. To understand Dutch literature at an academic level it is important to study the literature. Of course you can learn a lot by just reading it, but to thoroughly understand the work you need information about the context in which it was written, its style and structure and perhaps bibliographical information about the author.

The same holds for language. To understand a language fully and at an academic level at least some knowledge of its ‘context’, ‘style’ and ‘structure’ are necessary. For example, in the Virtual Department’s course >>Dutch Language History you can learn about the development of Dutch throughout the past centuries. This is called historical or >diachronic linguistics.

It is also possible to study aspects of a language at a single point in time. This is called >synchronic linguistics. A synchronic study of Modern Dutch will tell you a lot about how the language is used today. This is not only interesting from an academic point of view. Understanding the sounds of Dutch, the way you can put these sounds together to form words and the way you can put these words together to form sentences will help you use the language more efficiently.

>Linguistics is the systematic study of language. This course will introduce you to the different sub-fields of linguistics. When you finish the course you will know much more about the Dutch language, its rules and its speakers. You will also know that linguistics is not about learning some boring set of rules and impossible lists of difficult Latin words. Linguistics is all about one of the most amazing aspects of human life. One that is often taken for granted. Linguistics is about understanding human language.

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(outline of this course)



Dutch Linguistics Home Welcome Outline of course Terminology Syntax Sound structure Meaning Glossary References Further reading Feedback form Copyright Close Studypack	Welcome to Introduction to Dutch Linguistics In order to understand the culture and language of the Netherlands it is important to read and learn about the Netherlands. To understand Dutch literature at an academic level it is important to study the literature. Of course you can learn a lot by just reading it, but to thoroughly understand the work you need information about the context in which it was written, its style and structure and perhaps bibliographical information about the author. The same holds for language. To understand a language fully and at an academic level at least some knowledge of its ‘context’, ‘style’ and ‘structure’ are necessary. For example, in the Virtual Department’s course >>Dutch Language History you can learn about the development of Dutch throughout the past centuries. This is called historical or >diachronic linguistics. It is also possible to study aspects of a language at a single point in time. This is called >synchronic linguistics. A synchronic study of Modern Dutch will tell you a lot about how the language is used today. This is not only interesting from an academic point of view. Understanding the sounds of Dutch, the way you can put these sounds together to form words and the way you can put these words together to form sentences will help you use the language more efficiently. >Linguistics is the systematic study of language. This course will introduce you to the different sub-fields of linguistics. When you finish the course you will know much more about the Dutch language, its rules and its speakers. You will also know that linguistics is not about learning some boring set of rules and impossible lists of difficult Latin words. Linguistics is all about one of the most amazing aspects of human life. One that is often taken for granted. Linguistics is about understanding human language. next (outline of this course)