LING123
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LING123 - Introduction to Mathematical Approaches to Language
Course Description
If you say \"Ernie is a male dog\" that means that Ernie is male, but if you
say \"Diane is a racecar driver\" that doesn't mean Diane is a racecar. Why?
If I say \"I was looking for a unicorn\", you'll say I was wasting my time,
but if I say \"I was kissing a unicorn\", you'll think I'm truly crazy. Why?
\"Beavers build dams\" is true, but \"Dams are built by beavers\" isn't. Why?
This introductory course will work through concepts like set theory, basic logic, and formal language theory from the ground up to help explore and understand differences like these, which occur in our language (and any other) every day. The notions we will use are very rich and powerful, but are really intuitive and easy to work with. The course is an excellent opportunity to explore powerful tools that have mathematical power and precision (but with virtually no numbers!) to model accessible and intriguing data in the language domain.
say \"Diane is a racecar driver\" that doesn't mean Diane is a racecar. Why?
If I say \"I was looking for a unicorn\", you'll say I was wasting my time,
but if I say \"I was kissing a unicorn\", you'll think I'm truly crazy. Why?
\"Beavers build dams\" is true, but \"Dams are built by beavers\" isn't. Why?
This introductory course will work through concepts like set theory, basic logic, and formal language theory from the ground up to help explore and understand differences like these, which occur in our language (and any other) every day. The notions we will use are very rich and powerful, but are really intuitive and easy to work with. The course is an excellent opportunity to explore powerful tools that have mathematical power and precision (but with virtually no numbers!) to model accessible and intriguing data in the language domain.
Min Units
3
Max Units
3
Repeatable for Credit
No
Grading Basis
GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E
Career
Undergraduate
May be convened with
Component
Lecture
Optional Component
No
Typically Offered Main Campus
Fall, Spring, Summer