 I welcome all users to this website on linguistics. Ar-rah-la! Katz-stinafz. Da, shu! Kitabun-üzerinde. Welcome alone who confused the linguistics website here. Salvaita onnes, kui his paginis inter-rätialibus linguistik his utamini. Welcome to VLC 108 Language Typology, a course whose main goal is to deepen your understanding of the languages of the world, their structures, their central linguistic parameters from phonological to syntactic, and their underlying principles of language variation. The course automatically integrates a unique source of the virtual linguistics compass, its language index. This collection of hundreds of languages and varieties with structured audio data serves to illustrate the linguistic properties of each language mentioned, including their geographical distribution and beyond. VLC 108 involves, among others, the discussion of language universals and linguistic change. To cope with these and other complex topics, it is recommended that you are familiar with several topics beforehand, most importantly with the main concepts of phonology, morphology and syntax. If you aren't, we recommend to self-enroll to VLC 101 Linguistic Fundamentals, our introductory course to linguistics where you can brush up your knowledge in these areas. This does not mean that you have to take this course before you tackle VLC 108. Our recommendation is to self-enroll to this and other VLC courses and to access the information if and when required. Let us now look at the content of VLC 108. If you have an account on the OER VLC website, which is of course free, accessing VLC 108 is simple. Just log in with your personal data and you will find the course in your course overview. A click on the bottom of the VLC 108 tile leads you to the repository start site where you have access to all topics starting with a preliminary section with advice and help on how to use VLC 108. The repository is subdivided into three central parts. A general part where the main principles of language evolution and language comparison are introduced, for example the comparative method or the principles of language reconstruction. Part two focuses on the central parameters of language classification from phonological to syntactic including a special treatment of case and the principles of case syncretism. The final part of VLC 108. Why it means the approach and deals with the main approaches towards language universals, the principles of language change, aspects of language contact and the phenomenon of language disappearance where we have to face the situation in which 3,000 or more languages that are still spoken are endangered. Two more specialized topics have been added at the end. One about the typological development of English and one about the evolution of writing from proto-writing to early writing until today's situation. This list of topics is being updated and quality assured on a regular basis. Furthermore, all parts are supported by dialect maps and multimedia material from the VLC language index and from special VLC 108 databases to make available sound and video data whenever required. And our teaching and learning concept? Well, as you know, studying online on the virtual linguistics campus means go through each unit at your own pace. Select a topic and pick off the activities you have worked through and make use of as many VLC options as possible. And if you don't know what to do first, use the how to proceed options at the beginning of each unit. And as most of you know, each unit should be finished with a mastery test where you can earn your personal VLC badges. Maybe you prefer using your mobile device. If so, feel free to download the Moodle app, log in and study where and whenever you want. Well, that's it. As usual, the rest is up to you. Thanks for your attention and see you on the virtual linguistics campus.