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| LIN 3010 Principles of Linguistics
Instructor: Ronald Kephart
Everyone uses language, and everyone has a vast store of mostly unconscious knowledge about language: how to produce the sounds, what words mean, how to combine words into sentences, when and where to speak in a particular way. Everyone also has conscious knowledge about language, learned mostly in school. The problem is, a lot of what we learn about language in school is inaccurate or even wrong. A major objective of this course is to correct this situation by introducing students to linguistics, the scientific study of language. Linguistics falls within both the sciences and the humanities. On the
one hand, we use the scientific method, which argues from evidence obtained
through the collection and analysis of data. On the other hand, the object
of study, language, is the symbolic system in which all aspects of human
culture, religion, oral and written literature, kinship and descent, and
social, political, and economic patterns are encoded.
About the course... In this course, we explore the core characteristics of human language; including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. We also examine such topics as the evolution of language, first and second language acquisition, language change, regional and social variation, and the relationship between language and culture. Analytical exercises in a variety of languages, including English, introduce
students to the scientific method (data collection and analysis, argument
from evidence) as applied to human language behavior. Through these exercises
students gain an appreciation of the unity and diversity found in the world's
languages and how English fits into that unity and diversity. Students
also gain a scientific perspective on some of the language-related problems
encountered in a multiethnic and multicultural society such as ours.
Texts and resources Anthropological Linguistics: an Introduction, W. A. Foley. Blackwell, 1997. A Brief Introduction to Linguistics, R. Kephart. Dept of Language &
Literature
Looking at languages: a workbook in elementary linguistics, Frommer
& Finegan.
Videos and other resources, such as internet sites, will be provided by the instructor.
1. Language problems (25% of grade) will usually be from Frommer & Finegan; some handout assignments may also be given. Assignments in Frommer & Finegan must be handed in on the workbook page (or a copy). Home works absolutely will not be accepted late; if you are absent, it's your job to get the assignment from someone in the class. Homework not handed in receives zero credit. Occasionally, we may complete and hand in an assignment during class time. 2. One-page essays (25% of grade). These are brief responses too specific questions and take the place of quizzes; they serve as a check on understanding of the linguistic concepts. All students do the first essay, due on January 20; after that, each student turns in any 4. Essays can be turned in only on the dates indicated, and only one essay can be submitted at a time. The essays must be typed and must not exceed a page in length. Further instructions follow; examples will be provided in class. 3. The Midterm and Final Exams together account for 50% of the grade.
The Midterm will cover material completed up to that point. The Final will
focus on material covered after the Midterm, but will also include review
material from the first part of the course. These tests may contain analysis
problems, multiple-choice, matching, and true-false questions, short identifications,
and brief essays.
Grades The grade scale is: A = 92+; B = 82+; C = 70+; D = 60+; Below 60 = F.
All assignments and exams must be written in blue or black ink. Things
written in pencil will not be graded. However, when we go over assignments
in class before you turn them in, you may use a pencil to indicate corrections
made in class.
One-Page Essay Guidelines The purpose of the one-page essays is to allow you to demonstrate your understanding of some of the more important concepts in linguistics. For each topic I will give you one or more questions, if there is more than one, you can respond to whichever one you wish. Your task on the essays is to (1) identify the findings or ideas central to answering the question; (2) support them with evidence; (3) tell what the findings or ideas imply for our understanding of language and humankind. You may discuss the implications for you personally, or in a broader context (e.g. literacy education, foreign language teaching). Do not seek help, either from friends or from other sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc. You should write using your own words. Assume that your readers are not in the class; tell them as much as they need to know, and no more. The essays will give you practice in taking a concept, explaining what it is and how the linguistic evidence supports it, and telling why it is important. In class during the first week I will show you some examples of essays. The essays must be typed or word-processed (if not, I will toss it). They must not exceed one page, double-spaced. This constraint is to give you practice in being very focused on the question at hand and writing in a clear, concise, and to-the-point manner. The first essay is due on Monday, January 20; after that, you can turn in an essay on any four out of the next five due dates. You may not turn in more than one essay on a due date, and you may turn in an essay only on the published due dates! The first essay will be worth 5 points and will be for "practice";
after that each essay will be worth 10 points. I will grade the essays
on both organization (5 points) and content (5 points). I will not subtract
points for grammar or spelling unless the mistake impairs the communication
of your ideas, except: I will take one point off for each misspelled word
which represents a specific concept in linguistics!
Tentative schedule The schedule outlined below is subject to change if necessary. Note especially the due dates for Essays and the date for the Midterm Exam. Weeks Topic/readings Essay due dates 1 Introduction
to language & linguistics
2 Evolution of
language
3-4 Phonetics & phonology: the sounds
of language
5-6 Morphology: the structure of words
7-9 Syntax: the structure of sentences; Review
March 5 Midterm Exam 10 Spring Break 11-12 Universals & relativism: how languages are similar
and different
13-14 Ethnography of speaking
15-16 Culture and language change
April 30 3:00-4:50pm
Each syllabi the intellectual property of the author. |
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