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Syllabus – 2010 -2011
Introduction to Linguistics
Dr. Ira Slabodar
Semester course – 2 hours a week
Aims
1. To understand the properties of human language, the nature of
knowledge of language and its use.
2. To understand the major linguistic subfields: phonology,
morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics
3. To understand some of the more important theoretical concepts and
empirical findings of modern linguistics.
4. To develop an ability to understand and assess current scientific
debates in the field of linguistics.
5. To understand and appreciate the relationship between linguistic
data and language learning and language teaching.
6. To stimulate curiosity about language, what it reveals about the
human mind and the human cultures.
Course Description
The course will deal with the following topics:
Lesson 1:
Language
Some definitions of language
Language systems (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax,
semantics & pragmatics)
Stages of first language acquisition
Common misconceptions about human language
Lesson 2:
Language and Communication
Communication as the major goal of the use of language
Competence vs. Performance
Channels of communication/ Delivery systems of language
Non-verbal communication
Artificial languages
Animal language
Distinctive features of human language
Lesson 3:
Linguistics
Definitions
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Four dichotomies: general vs. descriptive; Diachronic vs. synchronic;
theoretical vs. applied; microlinguistics vs. macrolinguistics
Is linguistics a science?
Linguistics is descriptive
Priority of synchronic description
Structure and system
Dynamic Systems Theory
Lessons 4-6:
Phonetics and Phonology
Phonetics
Definition
The apparatus of speech
Breathing and speech
Consonants and vowels
Voiced and voiceless sounds
Consonants-place of articulation
Consonants- manner of articulation
Vowels
Oral and nasal cavities
Diphthongs
Phonology
Definition
Phonemes and allophones
Minimal pairs
Distinctive features analysis
Combining phonemes/ phonotactics
Phonological rules
Rules are productive
Ease of pronunciation and reception
Phonological rules affect words
Phonological rules affect morphemes
Allomorphy
Markedness
Lesson 7:
Morphology
Definition
The morpheme
Different types of morphemes
Morphological typology
The formation of new words
Lexical categories/Parts of speech
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Lesson 8-9:
Syntax
Definition
Descriptive syntax vs. prescriptive syntax
Syntactic construction
Types of syntactic structures
Grammaticality judgements and ambiguity
The constituent structure of sentences
Phrase structure rules
Transformational rules
Optional and obligatory transformations
Lesson 9-10:
Semantics & Pragmatics
The meaning of words: lexical semantics
The –Nyms (hyponyms, synonyms, homonyms, antonyms)
Other kinds of meaning: structural semantics
Pragmatics
Lesson 11:
Language change
Historical linguistics
Language families
The comparative method
Analogy and borrowing
The causes of language change
Lesson 12:
Language and society
Sociolinguistics, ethnolinguistics and psycholinguistics
Accent, dialect and idiolect
African American English
Hispanic English
Contact languages: Pidgin and Creole
Standards and vernaculars
Bilingualism and code-switching
Practical applications
Stylistic variations and stylistics
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Register
Gender and language
Linguistic anthropology
Language and nationalism
Lesson 13:
Sign Language
The nature of Sign Language
What is ASL?
Social dimensions of sign language
Lesson 14:
Non-verbal communication
Definitions
Kinesic behaviour
Affect displays
The eyes have it
Physical appearance
Tactile behaviour
Paralanguage
Proxemics
The physical environment
Mode of Teaching
The course is based on lecture-plus-class format with opportunities for
participation by the students.
Student Requirements and Evaluation
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Attendance and active participation -20%
Homework assignments (2/4) -15%
Final paper 50% (Presentation (20%)and written report (30%)
Peer evaluation-15%
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Bibliography
Chapters from:
Lyons, John. (2009). Language and Linguistics: An Introduction. New York:
Cambridge UP.
O’Grady, W., John Archibald, Mark Aronoff, Janie Rees-Miller.(2010).
Contemporary Linguistics. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Rowe, Bruce M. and Diane P. Levine. (2009). A Concise Introduction to
Linguistics. New York: Pearson.
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