COURSE LEARNING AGREEMENT
Course: IMA540 Focused Study II Title: Linguistics and Expression
Mode: Course
Instructor: Jill Robbins, Ph.D.
Credits: 3
Term: Fall 2014
Student: Tyler Bean
Learning Goals:
•
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To create a detailed overview of the linguistics field including, but not limited to, universals of language,
psycholinguistics, analysis, generative semantics, comparative linguistics, linguistic relativism,
sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and metaphors & framing.
To understand the place and purpose of language in modern society in relation to slang, comprehension, and
the separation between written and spoken language.
To contemplate the mimetic properties of language and the possibilities for honest expression.
Learning Activities:
Readings:
Boas, F. (1896) The Limitations of the Comparative Method of Anthropology. Science (New
Series) VOL. IV. No. 103.
Chomsky, N. (1980) The Current Scene in Linguistics: Present Directions. In The Structure of
Language, Own Thomas, Ed. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill.
Fromkin, V., R. Rodman, and N. Hyams. (2011) An Introduction to Language (9th Edition)
[indicated by IL in schedule] Boston: Wadsworth ISBN 10: 1428263926 / ISBN 13:
9781428263925
Greenberg, J. 1974. Language typology: A historical and Analytic Overview. Mouton: The Hague.
Grice, H.P. (2010) Logic and Conversation. In Darragh Byrne and Max Kolbel. (Eds.) Arguing
about Language. New York: Routledge.
Halle, M. (1983). On the Origins of the Distinctive Features. In M. Halle (Ed.) Roman Jakobson,
What He Taught Us. Columbus, OH: Slavica.
Jakobson, R. (1960.) Closing Remarks: Linguistics and Poetics. Proceedings of the Conference on
Language and Style, Indiana University. New York: Wiley & Sons and M.I.T. Press.
Labov, W. (1982). The Social Stratification of English in New York City. Washington, D.C.: Center
for Applied Linguistics.
Labov, W. 2013. The Language of Life and Death: The Transformation of Experience in Oral
Narrative. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Lakoff, G. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Sapir, E.(1925). Sound Patterns in Language. Language, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Jun., 1925), pp. 37-51.
Searle, J. R. (1968) Austin on Locutionary and Illocutionary Acts. The Philosophical Review, Vol.
77, No. 4 (Oct., 1968), pp. 405-424
Skinner, B. F. (1980) A Functional Analysis of Verbal Behavior. In The Structure of Language,
Own Thomas, Ed. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill.
Tannen, D. (2013) Discourse 2.0: Language and the New Media. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown
University Press.
Tannen, D. (2005) Conversational Style: Analyzing Talk among Friends. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Ullman, M.T. (2004). Contributions of memory circuits to language: the declarative/procedural
model. DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2003.10.008 Cognition 92 (2004) 231–270.
Ullman, M. T. & S. Pinker. (2002) The past and future of the past tense. Trends in Cognitive
Sciences Vol.6 No.11 November 2002
Whorf, B. L. (1956) Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf.
Ed. by J. B. Carroll. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Topics
Human Language, Animal
Language, Language
Universals, Typology,
Linguistic Relativism
Brain and Language,
Language and Cognition,
Psycholinguistics,
Pragmatics, Discourse
Analysis (part 1), Meaning
of Language, Truth,
Generative Semantics,
Morphology
Sociolinguistics, Language
Wee
k
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Readings
IL Chapter 1: What is Language
Boas (1896)
Sapir (1925)
IL Chapter 3 Morphology
Whorf (1956)
IL Chapter 12: Writing
Greenberg (1974) p. 11 -57
IL Chapter 2: Brain & Language
Skinner (1980)
Ullman & Pinker (2002)
Chomsky (1980)
Ullman (2004)
Tannen, D. (2005) Ch 2 - 4
IL Chapter 5: The Meaning of Language
Lakoff (1980) Chapters 1-7 (p. 1-34)
Tannen (2013) Ch 6.
IL Chapter 9: Language Processing: Humans and
Exercises/Assignment
*
1,3, 4, 6, 11
4, 5, 7, 8, 10
9, 10, 11, 12
Aspect paper+
7, 8, 9, 13
Aspect paper+
4, 6, 7, 14, 15
Aspect paper+
2, 3, 4, 7
in Modern Society,
Language Change,
Computers and Language
Analysis
13
14
15
Computers
Labov (1982) Chapters III & IV (optional Ch. I & II.)
IL Chapter 10: Language in Society
Labov (2013) Ch. 1-4.
IL Chapter 11: Language Change
Synthesis
11, 14, 15, 16
6, 7, 11, 12
Research Paper
* Choose one or two exercises to complete from the options.
+ Aspect paper should synthesize the knowledge gained from the theme for the preceding 3 – 4
week period. Specific assignment suggestions will be given.
Assignments
Writing and other experiential activities:
• Research (in literature, critical analysis, critical theory)
• Note-taking and reflective journaling (Linguistics Exercises)
• Regular discussions with instructor
• Source analyses
• Aspect papers (group readings/topics into three-four sections for synthesis/summary)
• Synthesis paper (details)
Basis for Evaluation:
• Adequate progress towards learning goals outlined above
• Quality of written work
• Quality of thought evidenced in discussions
• Quality of comprehensive written evaluation to include response to the learning goals