SPRING 2018
Introduction to Linguistics
Ling 2320 (21252)
Engl 2320 (21530)
Anth 2320 (22218)
TR 9-10:20
Old Main 201
The purpose of this course is to introduce the major areas of the scientific study of language. These are phonetics/phonology, morphology and the lexicon, syntax, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and applied linguistics. Emphasis will be placed on mastery of a certain body of factual knowledge about language, and on the processes of linguistic analysis. The course will also include some attention to the role of language in contemporary political, social, and educational affairs, as well as popular (mis)conceptions of language. A schedule, subject to adjustment, follows.
Nature of Lg./
Intro to CourseJan. 16Files 1.0--1.5
Morphology18Files 4.0--4.3
23Files 4.4--4.5
25
Syntax30Files 5.0—5.2
Feb.1Files 5.3—5.5
6
Semantics8Files 6.0—6.2
13Files 6.3—6.4
Pragmatics/Lg. in use15Files 7.0—7.2
20Files 7.3—7.5
22EXAM 1
Phonetics27Files 2.0—2.2
Mar12.3—2.4
Phonology6Files 3.0, 3.1, 3.4
8
13Spring Break
15Spring Break
20Files3.2, 3.3, 3.5
22
HMI27Files 16.0—16.4
29(Deadline for dropping courses)
(30 Spring Study Day/César Chávez)
Apr.3EXAM 2
Change5Files13.0, 13.1,
10Files 13.3, 13.4,
Lg. History/Families12Files 13.5, 13.6, 13.2, 13.7
Dialects/Variation17Files 10.0, 10.3
19Files 10.1, 10.2, 10.4, 10.5
24
Acquisition26Files8.0—8.4
May 1Files 8.5
Review3
4Dead Day
7-11Final Exams
Final Exam
Required text: Language Files (Ohio State Univ.11th edition). (There is now a 12th edition. It that’s all you can get, ok. The differences probably aren’t all that great.) You need to bring the text to class each day.
Attendance and grading: and other matters:
I will take attendance. After 3 unexcused absences, your grade will drop by half a letter grade for each unexcused absence. The only valid excuses are death and illness (and that has to be pretty serious). Don’t squander your three freebies on trivia. You may need them for dead car batteries, etc. If you do or must miss (even the first day of class), it is your responsibility to get notes, assignments, etc. from another student. I will consider make-ups for missed exams, but only if arranged in advance or in the case of very unusual circumstances.
Grades for the course will be earned on the basis of the following:
Homework 150 pts(this will include quizzes on the reading at the beginning of each class day)
Exams200 pts (100 each)
Final Exam100 pts
Pick One 50 pts
500
The final calculation is:
450 A
400 B
350 C
300 D
Pick One: We will not cover every chapter in the book. You will pick one of the chapters we do not cover (9, 11, 12, 14, 15) that interests you. You will complete a quiz worth 50 points on it during the last week of class. You are on your own to read the files in that chapter and learn what is in the chapter.
If your point total is within 5pts of the threshold for the next highest grade AND you have a good record of not missing homeworks, attendance, participation, etc, I will round up.
This course requires the completion of exercises for each class. They must be completed before the class in which they are due, as they will form the basis for class discussion. In the majority of cases, they will be submitted via Blackboard at a time well before the class meeting. In order to facilitate the submission and sharing of class assignments through Blackboard, students should install CamScanner (or some similar app) on their smartphones. It is much easier to work out many of the solutions to the problems with pencil and paper than wrestling with Word or other graphics programs. These apps simply take an image of a page and turn it into a pdf file which can be submitted easily. In absence of a smartphone, students can scan material into a pdf using one of the copy machines in LACIT and email it. (Please, no smartphone apps that just take a picture (jpeg format, etc), unless you can convert it to pdf. Bb does not handle jpeg files in the same way, and they are much harder for me to grade.)
Learning ObjectivesThe course will emphasize the following concepts and information.
Basic phonetic characteristics of speech sounds
Natural classes
Inventories, phonotactics, and the phonemic principle (including allophony)
Phonological patterns in morphemes and words
The morphemic concept, including allomorphy
Lexical categories and morpho-syntactic implications
Semantic interpretation of the lexicon
Semantic interpretation and syntactic structure
Semantic interpretation of sentences in context
Constituency
Linear and hierarchical structure
Grammar as a cognitive system of rules
The difference between grammar and usage
Cross-Linguistic commonalities in all modules of language
The distinction between learning and acquisition
Patterns of acquisition in 1st and 2nd language
Patterns of language contact, including outcomes of maintenance and shift
Universality and constancy of language change
Patterns of language change
The nature of regional and social variation
The relationship of language variation and change
Socio-political aspects of language variation
The relationship of language and cultural values
The differences between animal communication and human language
The characteristics of quasi-human language on a computer
Useful ground rules and housekeeping hints:
Please be sure that all e-communications are switched “off”. Do not use cell phones, etc. duringthe class for talking, texting, etc. They are a huge distraction. Cell phones, etc. are strictlyforbidden in any exam situation.
Please avoid ‘casual’ absences. Any absence will present difficulties since we necessarily cover alot of material in a course of this nature, and since much of the material is ‘cumulative’. Three absences are allowed without penalty, excepting absences on dates on which anassignment is due or an exam is being given. At the professor's discretion, when a student hasmissed more than 3 class sessions, (s)he may be dropped from the course with a ‘W’before the drop date or with a ‘W’ or ‘F’ after that date. For details, refer to the UndergraduateCatalog.
A student may also be dropped at the professor's discretion for various behaviors which in theprofessor’s opinion may compromise the delivery or the intellectual integrity of the class (e.g.talking, phoning, texting, browsing, etc. during class, looking in the direction of somene else’stest paper, failing to bring requisite test materials to an examination, etc.). The University’s policy on academic integrity and honesty is found at Violations of these policies will be referred to the appropriate authorities.
Please arrive on time, and please do not leave early. Either is very disruptive to both thestudents and the professor. An early departure may be counted as an absence. If there is a goodreason that you must leave early, please let me know before-hand.
Be present for all examinations. It is your responsibility to do so. By university policy, a missed exam results in a grade of ‘0’ for that exam, unless a prior arrangement has been made with theprofessor. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for details.
Exams will require a Scantron form (normally no. 882-E, a #2pencil, and a good eraser. Be sure that you have these with you for each exam, since thedepartment cannot provide them. All of these things are available in the bookstore.
If you have questions, or even if you're just curious about something that may be related to whatwe're working on, please ask. I also learn things from your questions and observations. Feel freeto come by during office hours. That's what they're for.
Human language is a large and a fascinating topic. The popular misconceptions about languageare many, and few people are aware of some of the most basic and interesting aspects of humanlanguage. Have fun with it. I hope that you enjoy our study of it, and that this study willheighten your interest in what has become one of the major frontiers in cognitive science --linguistics.
If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact The Center forAccommodations and Support Services (CASS) at 747-5148, or by email to , orvisit their office located in UTEP Union East, Room 106. For additional information, please visitthe CASS website at