This course is an introduction to the study of the English language. After an initial discussion of the main properties of human languages that set them apart from animal communication, the first part of the course offers an overview of the main structural properties of the English language. These will include a description of the following linguistic levels: 1. Phonetics and phonology: i.e. the human speech sound inventory as well as the specific sounds used by the English language; 2. Morphology and word-formation: the analysis of meaningful units below the word level (such as plural -s in cats, dogs or horses) and the various ways of creating new words (e.g. the verb to google deriving from the name of the search engine Google); 3. Syntax: the structure of English sentences; and 4. Semantics and pragmatics: both dealing with different types of linguistic meaning. Finally, the course explores the effects of the main linguistic changes on all linguistic levels that have affected the English language since its "birth" in the 5th century (History of the English language). - Requirements: regular attendance, active participation, final exam.