The document provides an introduction to the study of linguistics. It outlines the main topics that will be covered, which include phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse analysis. It defines linguistics as the scientific study of language and notes that language has a hierarchical structure that can be analyzed at different levels, from sounds to sentences. The document discusses some key characteristics of human language, including that it is primarily used for communication, is arbitrary in nature, exhibits duality of patterning, and is culturally transmitted rather than genetically inherited. It contrasts several properties of human language with animal communication systems.