I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
Group X Indigenous and Global Perspectives
Dept/Program
Linguistics
Course #
LING U 375
Course Title
Prerequisite
Endangered Languages
None
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Date
Mizuki Miyashita
x5164
mizuki.miyashita@umontana.
edu
Program Chair
Tully Thibeau (Linguistics)
John Douglas
(Anthropology)
Dean
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
This course surveys endangered languages and the communities in which endangered
languages are spoken. Most of the endangered languages in the world are spoken by indigenous
people. In this course, two major issues are examined. First, linguistic diversity is introduced
along with general language formation systems in order to understand and appreciate complex
systems and interesting relationships between language and culture not usually found in
English. Second, language endangerment in indigenous groups world-wide is examined.
Topics to be addressed include language shift and loss, language maintenance effort, and
prospects for the future of these languages.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
This course examines the health of language
Indigenous and/or global courses will
familiarize students with the values, histories,
throughout the world. Historical background
and institutions of two or more societies
of the language endangerment is provided to
through the uses of comparative approaches.
understand the current status of language
community.
Indigenous perspective courses address the
longstanding tenure of a particular people in a
particular geographical region, their histories,
cultures, and ways of living as well as their
interaction with other groups, indigenous and
non-indigenous.
This course addresses language
endangerment situations. Most endangered
languages are spoken by indigenous people
such as Native Americans, Aborigines in
Australia, and other minority languages in
other continents. Historical background that
contributed to language endangerment,
cultural factors that will be lost when the
languages die, and current efforts of
language revitalization are discussed.
This course addresses endangered languages
world-wide: Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa,
and Oceania. In each area, significance and
consequence of language loss is examined.
Global perspective courses adopt a broad focus
with respect to time, place, and subject matter
and one that is transnational and/or multicultural/ethnic in nature. Whether the cultures
or societies under study are primarily historical
or contemporary, courses investigate significant
linkages or interactions that range across time
and space.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Upon completion of a course in this perspective, Students will obtain wider perspectives on
students will:
linguistic issues including that any linguistic
1. place human behavior and cultural ideas into area (region, community, country and/or
a wider (global/indigenous) framework, and continent) has a duality of mainstream and
enhance their understanding of the complex minority language communities.
interdependence of nations and societies and
their physical environments;
Students will demonstrate an awareness of
2. demonstrate an awareness of the diverse
ways humans structure their social, political, minority language groups (endangered
and cultural lives; and
language groups) world-wide.
3. analyze and compare the rights and
Students will understand that about 90% of
responsibilities of citizenship in the 21st
the world’s languages will disappear in this
century including those of their own
century if no action is taken. They will
societies and cultures.
analyze the rights and responsibilities of
citizenship in terms of language
revitalization.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
LINGUISTICS 375 The University of Montana
Syllabus Time:
Instructor:
Phone:
Office hours:
MTWH 11:30 a.m.– 1:20 p.m.
Place: LA 243
Dr. Mizuki Miyashita
Office: SS 212
243-5164 (office)
Email: mizuki.miyashita@umontana.edu
MTWH 1:30-2:30 or by appointment
Objectives
This course surveys endangered languages and the communities in which they are spoken. Two
major topics are covered in this seminar. First, linguistic diversity is introduced along with the
general language formation systems (phonetics, phonology, morphology and syntax) in order to
understand and appreciate facts that pertain to many endangered languages, which show
complex systems and interesting relationships between language and culture not usually found
in English or other European languages. Second, language endangerment and language
maintenance are examined. Some causes of language shift and loss, various efforts in language
maintenance, and prospects for the future of these languages are assessed.
Prerequisites
None.
Textbook/readings
Nettle, Daniel & Suzanne Romaine (2000). Vanishing Voices: the extinction of the world’s languages.
Oxford University Press.
Other Materials (TBA)
Course Requirements and Grading Criteria
Participation
10%
Quizzes (open-book) 45% (15% x 3)
Language Report
20%
Final Exam
25%
Test Schedule (Every Friday)
Exam 1
5/24
Exam 2
5/32
Exam 3
Report
6/7
6/18-19
A
B
C
D
E
90%-100%
80%- 89%
70%- 79%
60%- 69%
below 59%
Final Exam
6/21
Attendance/Absence Policy
• Attendance is a part of your course participation.
• Attending to every class meeting is very important not only for your points but also for
the information given in class. Information given in class is not always the same as what
is on the textbook. Some information given only in the class may reflect topics in exam.
Makeup Exam Policy
Make-up tests are given when your reasons for missing the test meet the University’s rules.
Academic Misconduct (http://www.umt.edu/studentaffairs/sccAcademicConduct.htm)
Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction
by the University. Academic misconduct is defined as all forms of academic dishonesty, including but not
limited to: 1) Plagiarism, 2) Misconduct during an examination or academic exercise, 3) Unauthorized possession of
examination or other course materials, 4) Tampering with course materials, 5) Submitting false information, 6) Submitting
work previously presented in another course, 7) Improperly influencing conduct, 8) Substituting, or arranging substitution,
for another student during an examination or other academic exercise, 9) Facilitating academic dishonesty, and 10)
Altering transcripts, grades, examinations, or other academically related documents.
Language Report (1-3 pages outline)
1. One Endangered Language
2. Speaker Population, community population.
3. Make a brief analysis of endangerment
4. Endangered Linguistic Property
5. Due (written and oral) Tuesday 6/19
Tentative Schedule
Schedule of the session (Tentative)
Wk
1
Topic
May 21 Introduction
Tue
22 Language Endangerment
Wed
23 Language Endangerment
Thu
24 Linguistic Diversity Exam 1
Mon
2
28 Memorial Holiday
Tue
29 Linguistic Diversity (Genetic)
Wed
30 Linguistic Diversity (Genetic)
Thu
31 Linguistic Diversity Exam 2
Mon
3
June 4 Linguistic Diversity (Typology)
Tue
5 Linguistic Diversity (Typology)
Wed
6 Linguistic Diversity (Typology)
Thu
7 Linguistic Diversity Exam 3
Mon
4
11 Language Maintenance
Tue
12 Language Maintenance
Wed
13 TBA
Thu
14 Language Maintenance
Mon
5
18 Presentation
Tue
19 Presentation
Wed
20 Review
Thu
21 Final Exam
The content on this syllabus may be modified.
Mon
Reading
CH1
CH2
CH2
CH2
Comments
CH3
CH3
CH3
CH3
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.