Linguistics 306 (41410): Introduction to the Study of Language
Fall, 2009
TTh 2:00-3:30, GSB 2.126
Instructor:
Office:
E-mail:
Robert D. King
Calhoun Hall 507 (471-9016)
rking@mail.utexas.edu
BOTTOM-LINE RULES: Attendance is mandatory; homework is due almost every
Thursday and cannot be turned in late, tests will be taken when scheduled; turn
OFF cell phones; you can’t walk out of class, read a newspaper, sleep or eat in class!
Do NOT use laptops for anything not class-related. Cheating will result in an F.
Office Hours:
TTh 1:00-2:00 in Calhoun 507.W 1:30-3:00 in HRC 3.318 (Harry Ransom
Humanities Research Center).
Textbooks:
Fromkin, Rodman, Hyams, An Introduction to Language (8th edition). Plus
get used to logging on Blackboard (BB)—I put some things there.
Grading:
Your grade is based approximately 70% on the two tests, 30% on the
homework. Attendance decides borderline cases.
Attendance:
Class attendance is mandatory. You are allowed two (2)
unexcused absences. Beyond that your grade suffers: 3 unexcused
absences you get at most a B; 4 a C; 5 a D; 6 an F. Perfect
attendance will be used to decide borderline cases in assigning
the course grade. If you have a genuine, reasonable excuse to be
absent, contact your TA (not me) ahead of time.
Do not wander into class late or leave class early. Do not come to class
to drop off your homework and then leave. Both are treated as
unexcused absences. (Plus you have to “sign out” if you leave early
without an ahead-of-time arrangement.) No cheating!
Homework:
This is a homework-intensive course. Homework is assigned
almost every week, and it must be turned in at the beginning of the
class session when it is due. It is assigned in the syllabus and is due
on Thursdays. No homework will be accepted late. You can work
with other students doing the homework. You cannot just copy
what another student has done. That is deemed plagiarism and will
result in an F for the class.
Make-ups:
Make-up exams will be given only for good cause such as
documented illness or a conflict with a religious holiday. No
homework will be accepted late. Don’t ask for “extra work.”
Religious holidays:
If you have a religious reason to be absent or miss a test or
whatever, no problem—that is an excused absence—but let your
TA know in advance so that arrangements can be made if needed.
Syllabus for Linguistics 306
Introduction to the Study of Language
Fall 2009, Robert D. King
Page numbers under Homework refer to the Fromkin-Rodman-Hyams textbook.
Homework is generally due the Thursday of the week it is assigned.
Week
Starting
Topic
Reading
Homework
Introduction
Ch. 1; “What is
Linguistics?”
(on BB: Blackboard)
No homework
1
8/27
2
9/1
What is Linguistics?
Myths about Language
Language Myth
“Test” (BB)
p. 32:2a-k,5,8,9,14
(Hand in Thursday, 9/3)
3
9/8
Language and the Brain
Ch. 2
p. 64: 2,3,8,12,14
4
9/15
Morphology
Ch. 3
p. 107:1,2.3,4,5,6,17
5
9/22
Morphology (continued)
Begin Phonetics
6
9/29
Phonetics (continued)
7
10/6
Phonology
Begin Syntax
Ch. 7 (pp.255-66)
Ch. 4
p. 163: 3a-g,4,7a-e
8
10/13
Syntax
Ch. 4
1st Exam, Th, 10/15
9
10/20
Semantics
Ch. 5
p. 210:3,5a-e,16a-f
10
10/27
Writing Systems
Ch. 12
p. 529:1b,1h,1k,4,5,6,9,10
11
11/3
12
11/10
Sociolinguistics
Ch. 10
p. 454:1,2,4,5,8,13
13
11/17
Sociolinguistics
Ch. 10
p. 455:3,6,7,11,14
14
11/24
Historical Linguistics
Ch. 11
No homework
15
12/1
Historical Linguistics
Ch. 3
Ch. 6
p. 250:1,2,3,4,5
p. 252:6,8,10,14
Language Acquisition
p. 359:2,6,11,13
2nd Exam, Th. 12/3
NO FINAL EXAMINATION IN THIS COURSE! (Two exams yes over the material covered,
comprehensive final exam no.)