Linguistics 101
Introduction to Language
Spring 2014
TTH 2:00-3:15, EBA 341
Instructor: Amanda Austin, amandacaustin89@gmail.com
Office Hours: TTH 12:00-1:30. Office: SHW 232.
Please e-mail to request an appointment outside of office hours. I check my e-mail
frequently and will respond as promptly as possible. Please do not send e-mails after
8:00p.m. They will not receive a response until the next day. If I have not responded
within 36 hours, feel free to send a polite reminder. I will not discuss grades via e-mail.
Text: Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics, 11th Edition.
2011. Department of Linguistics, The Ohio State University. Additional material may be
required (e.g., internet sites).
Description: The nature of language. Sound, meaning, and grammar. Language history
and change. Dialects and variation. Language acquisition. Animal communication.
Language and the brain. This course introduces you to linguistics, the scientific study of
language. You will learn how languages are structured: how sounds become words, how
words become sentences, how sentences become statements, questions, compliments,
and insults. We will discuss how languages function in society: how a dialect becomes a
language, how compliments can become insults, whether or not men and women speak
different 'languages,' and what your language use says about your 'personal style.' We
will talk about the biology of language and the practical application of linguistics: how
hominids evolved to learn and use language, whether or not animals have 'language,'
how electronic devices process language, and how computers might eventually learn and
use language. Finally, we will investigate major theories of linguistics: how languages
change, the diversity of language on Earth, and what linguists still don't know about
language.
This course is one of nine courses that you will take in General Education Foundations.
Foundations courses cultivate skills in reading, writing, research, communication,
computation, information literacy, and use of technology. They furthermore introduce
you to basic concepts, theories and approaches in a variety of disciplines in order to
provide the intellectual breadth necessary to help you integrate the more specialized
knowledge gathered in your major area of study into a broader world picture.
This course is one of two Foundations courses that you will take in the area of Social
and Behavioral Sciences. Upon completing this area of Foundations, you will be able to:
1) explore and recognize basic terms, concepts, and domains of the social and
behavioral sciences; 2) comprehend diverse theories and methods of the social and
behavioral sciences; 3) identify human behavioral patterns across space and time and
discuss their interrelatedness and distinctiveness; 4) enhance your under-standing of the
social world through the application of conceptual frameworks from the social and
behavioral sciences to first-hand engagement with contemporary issues.
Linguists study the patterns of language, which carry meaning and articulate social and
linguistic identity. Though the details of the patterning vary from language to language
and culture to culture, the kinds of patterning are constant. All languages have systems
of sounds, units of meaning called words, and larger units called phrases and sentences.
All languages have ways of signaling and acknowledging differences of social status and
group, and all languages fall into one of a small number of types, which characterize how
the different levels of patterning come together, In this course you will learn how
linguists analyze language patterns and what kinds of evidence and arguments they use to
support those analyses, and you will have the opportunity to explore and defend
linguistic analyses of your own.
Expected learning outcomes: By the end of the course, participants should be
familiar with basic linguistic analysis and should know how to use the International
Phonetic Alphabet and will have acquired a familiarity with standard descriptive
approaches with respect to phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
You are encouraged to use 101 as a place to explore your possible interest in any
subfield of linguistics while learning the fundamental principles of the discipline. Further,
because this is a broad and generalized introduction, students are expected to use 101
to explore how aspects of linguistics can be used to engage a general audience in our
research as linguists and language teachers.
Course Structure: Class lecture, frequent homework assignments (generally worth 10
pts.), two quizzes, two tests, one group project, and one final exam. Attendance and
participation are not a formal part of your grade, but it is to your benefit to attend class
consistently and to ask questions. Details on homework assignments will be given in
class. Keep in mind that quality of class participation, or marked improvement or
decline, can raise or lower your grade (generally to a + or a -).
Professionalism: You are expected to show professional courtesy and respect toward
your fellow students at all times.
Policies on Technology and Conduct: You are expected to respect your fellow
students. When fellow students are talking, you should show them the same respect and
attention as you show your professor. Computers, tablets, iPads, phones, etc. should be
silenced. Headphones should remain off. Texting during class will eliminate your
participation grade.
E-mail: E-mails sent to your professor and/or fellow students should be professionally
composed with an opening an explicit body and an appropriate closing. Unprofessional
and/or disrespectful e-mail will be deleted without being read. I am not responsible for
e-mails unreceived or read late.
Twitter, Facebook, Etc.: Do not contact your professor via social media sites. Do
not contact your professor about coursework, grades, or class-specific questions via
Facebook, Twitter, Academia.edu, or any other social media platform.
Academic Integrity: Do not cheat. If you work with a partner on a homework
assignment you must list all names on your homework assignment and give a detailed
explanation of how you each contributed to the work. You may not work with anyone
to complete a Test. Failure to follow these rules is cheating. If you cheat, you will be
given a grade of “F” for the course and may be suspended from SDSU. If you have
questions about the definition or specifics of “cheating” or “plagiarism” you may contact
me, the Linguistics Dept. Chair, a member of the Student Discipline Office at (619) 5943069 or http://csrr.sdsu.edu/
Students with Disabilities: For students with disabilities, I am available during my
office hours to privately discuss any appropriate academic accommodations that might
be necessary. Before course accommodations are made, a student may be required to
obtain and/or provide documentation from the Office of Student Disability Services
(http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/sds/index.html
or
call
619-594-6473
Assignments and grading:
Grading Scale: 100-90 A, 89-80 B, 79-70 C, 69-60 D, 59-0 F
20% Homework – 8 assignments each worth 10 points
20% Two 25-point quizzes
20% Two 50-point tests
15% Independent Project Paper (see last page)
25% A 100-point comprehensive final exam
Homework: I will be grading assignments based on how linguistic models and
terms are expressed using clarity and thoroughness as well as fulfillment of all
exercises. However, I am not just grading for completeness; I will also consider
quality of work in the grading process.
Quizzes: There will be one quiz covering phonetics and one quiz covering
morphology. The quizzes will be administered in class and used as practice for
tests. The quizzes will be a series of short answer/fill-in-the-blank problems.
Tests: There will be one test covering phonetics/phonology and one test covering
morphology and syntax. Tests will be administered in class. The tests will, in
essence, be extensions of the quizzes and practice assessments administered in
class and via homework.
Independent Project Paper: Choose one of the theories or areas of linguistic
application that we have discussed in class (i.e., Prototype Theory, Color Theory,
Conversational Maxims, Animal Communication, Computer Translation, etc.).
Theories not discussed in class must be approved by the professor. Using data
you collect or an analysis of data in previous studies, you will argue for or against
the foundational underpinnings of your chosen theory. You will meet with me
twice in preparation for your study, once before March 6, and once before April
10. You will summarize your findings in a 3-5 page paper which will be due on the
last day of class Thursday, May 8.
Final: A 100-point comprehensive final will consist of a series of short answer/fillin-the-blank problems assessing students’ knowledge of the entire Ling. 101
course.
Earning 90% will get you an ‘A’, 80% a ‘B’, 70% a ‘C’, and so on. Late homework
will not be accepted under any circumstances. Quizzes and tests must be taken as
scheduled. The only exceptions will be documented emergencies (e.g., medical).
Tentative Schedule
(Subject to Change at Instructor’s Discretion)
Week
Days &
Dates
Topic/Event/Reading Assignment
1
Th 01/23
Introduction to course and field, LF Ch. 1
2
Tu 01/28
Animal Communication, LF Ch. 14
Th 01/30
Phonetics and Lang. Acquisition, LF 2.0-2.4, 8.0-8.2
Tu 02/04
con’t
Th 02/06
con’t
Tu 02/11
con’t
Th 02/13
Quiz 1 (25 pts); start Phonology, LF Ch. 3
Tu 02/18
con’t
Th 02/20
con’t
Tu 02/25
con’t; Speech Production & Perception, LF. 9.3 & 9.4
Th 02/27
con’t
Tu 03/04
con’t
Th 03/06
Test 1 (50 pts)
Tu 03/11
Morphology, LF. Ch. 4
Th 03/13
con’t
Tu 03/18
con’t, Lexical Processing, LF 9.5
Th 03/20
con’t
Tu 03/25
Quiz 2 (25 pts); Language, Gender, & Identity
Th 03/27
con’t; Prototype Theory & Color Theory: Categorical
Models
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Tu 04/01
No Class – Spring Recess
Th 04/03
No Class – Spring Recess
Tu 04/08
Syntax, LF. Ch. 5
Th 04/10
con’t
Tu 04/15
con’t
Th 04/17
con’t; Communicating with computers & machine
translation, LF 16.3, & 16.4
Tu 04/22
con’t
Th 04/24
Test 2 (50 pts)
Tu 04/29
Semantics and Pragmatics, LF 6.2, 6.3, 7.2, &7.3
Th 05/01
con’t
Tu 05/06
Lang. Variation and Lang. Contact, LF Ch. 10 & 12
Th 05/08
Independent Project Paper Due; Review for Final
Final Exams May 9-15