LING 3311 Spring 2009 Syllabus Page 2 of 6

LING 3311: Linguistic Analysis

Spring 2009

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:50 PM, Trimble Hall 216

Instructor: Liz Dockendorf
e-mail:

home: 469-366-6254

office: Trimble Hall 217A

office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00 – 3:30 or by appointment.


Prerequisites: LING 2301, or a grade of B or better in a 2000-level modern or classical language course.

Required Texts:

Bergmann, Anouschka; Hall, Kathleen Currie; Ross, Sharon Miriam. 2007. Language files : materials for an introduction to language and linguistics, 10th edition. Columbus : Ohio State University Press. ISBN: 0814251633

Pinker, Stephen. 1995. The language instinct. HarperPerennial. ISBN: 0060976519

Course Description: The analysis of natural languages. Covers Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics, and Historical and Comparative Linguistics, with a focus on solving linguistics problems.

Course Objectives: The goal of LING 3311 is to teach students the methods of linguistic analysis, enabling them to solve problems in Phonology, Morphology, Syntax and Historical Linguistics. Students will also receive an overview of Semantics, Pragmatics and other fields.

Student Learning Objectives:

§  Students should gain a basic understanding of several key fields in linguists: Phonetics, Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics, Pragmatics, and Historical and Comparative Linguistics.

§  Students should be able to work problems in Phonology, Morphology and Syntax using the methods of linguistic analysis taught in this course.

Assignments and Grading

1.  Homework:

·  Homework will be due (almost) every class. Students are expected to come to class with their homework completed.

·  Most homework will not be graded but will count toward the Attendance/Participation grade (see below).

·  I will choose 10 of these homework assignments to receive a number grade; these will make up the Homework portion of the grade (30% of total grade). Students may not know in advance whether a particular homework assignment will be graded.

2.  Attendance/Participation: When you arrive on time for class, with your homeowork for that day completed, you will get a credit toward your Participation grade, which is worth 10% of your final grade. Twenty-eight classes are scheduled (not counting the first day or the final exam week), so there are 28 credits possible. If a class is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a snow day, everyone will receive the credit for that day. The points awarded are as follows:

Table 1
Participation credits / Points toward final grade
25 – 28 / 10
22 - 24 / 9
19 - 21 / 8
16 - 18 / 7
13 - 15 / 6
10 - 12 / 5
7 - 9 / 4
4 - 6 / 3
1 - 3 / 2
0 / 0

3.  Quizzes: A quiz will be given after the completion of each unit (Phonetics, Morphology, Phonology, Syntax, Semantics/Pragmatics, Historical Linguistics). You will have half an hour at the beginning of class to complete each quiz. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped. A second quiz grade may be replaced by doing a final presentation (see #6 below).

4.  The Language Instinct: In addition to the readings listed on the syllabus, students will be expected to read along in Steven Pinker's The Language Instinct.

1.  You may read this book at your own pace, but periodic discussions of this book are scheduled in the syllabus; please have the indicated chapters read by those dates. (This schedule expects that you will read at a rate of about one chapter per week.)

2.  For each of these discussion sessions, students must submit two discussion questions to me in advance, by email or in writing, that relate to the chapters covered. These questions can be submitted at any time, up to one hour before class on the date of the discussion. (5% of grade)

3.  Students will write a 3-page essay on an aspect of the book, due by the final exam date. (10% of grade)

5.  Final Exam: A final exam will be given, in which students will work a set of problems from each unit. (20% of grade)

6.  Final Presentations – You may optionally do a 15-minute presentation during the last week of class, on a topic approved by me. The grade counts as a quiz grade.

Table 2
Component / Possible Points
Participation
Come to class with adequately completed homework. / 10
Homework
10 selected homework assignments will receive a number grade;
2 lowest grades will be dropped. / 30
Quizzes
6 quizzes will be given; lowest quiz grade will be dropped. / 25
(5 points each for 5 quizzes)
The Language Instinct discussion questions / 5
The Language Instinct essay / 10
Final Exam / 20
Total Points / 100

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend class regularly, and attendance is reflected in the Participation component of the grade. Three classes may be missed without your grade being affected; after that points are detracted (see Table 1 above for details). No distinction is made between excused and unexcused absences.

Late Assigments:

Late assignments will not be accepted. If you know you will miss a class but you want to turn in your homework for that class, get it to me before class time.

Makeup Tests and Quizzes:

No makeup tests or quizzes will be given. If you have to miss a quiz, it can count as your dropped quiz grade or be replaced by a final presentation grade.

University Policies (Fine Print)

Final Review Week: A period of five class days prior to the first day of final examinations in the long sessions shall be designated as Final Review Week. The purpose of this week is to allow students sufficient time to prepare for final examinations. During this week, there shall be no scheduled activities such as required field trips or performances; and no instructor shall assign any themes, research problems or exercises of similar scope that have a completion date during or following this week unless specified in the course syllabus. During Final Review Week, an instructor shall not give any examinations constituting 10% or more of the final grade, except makeup tests and laboratory examinations. In addition, no instructor shall give any portion of the final examination during Final Review Week.

Americans With Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation (Public Law 93112, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended). With the passage of new federal legislation entitled the "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.

All members of the UTA faculty are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodation" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. As a student, your responsibility rests with informing the instructor at the beginning of the semester (you must inform me in writing (e-mail is fine) no later than Tuesday, January 25, 2005) and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels; for more information, contact UTA's Office of Students with Disabilities (located in the Lower Level of University Center).

According to Department of Linguistics and TESOL policy, "unofficial" or "informal" requests for accommodations (i.e., those not recorded by the Office of Students with Disabilities) cannot be honored.

Academic Dishonesty: At The University of Texas at Arlington, academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. Students involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from UTA.

According the UT System Regents' Rules and Regulations, "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts" (Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22).

While the Department of Linguistics and TESOL hopes to foster a sense of community in which students can enhance their educational experience by conferring with each other about the lectures, readings, and assignments, all work submitted must be the product of each student's own effort. Students are expected to know and honor the standards of academic integrity followed by American universities; ignorance of these standards is not an excuse for committing an act of academic dishonesty (including plagiarism). If you have questions, please speak with your instructor, your academic advisor, or the department chair.

Student Support Services Available: The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for information and referrals.

Enrolling in / Withdrawing from this Course: Students are responsible for making all decisions regarding their enrollment status in UTA courses. Should you decide to withdraw from this course, you must either (1) drop via the internet through the MyMav system or (2) complete an official "add/drop" and file it in the Linguistics and TESOL department office. Any student who stops attending class and/or fails to complete assigned work will not be "automatically" dropped; in such cases, unless you officially withdraw, you will receive a grade of F. (Note: Students enrolled in graduate courses may not "replace" a grade; all grades are permanent.)

A student dropping his/her last (only) course cannot withdraw as above. Rather, s/he must go in person to the UTA Registrar's Office (Davis Hall, First Floor) and complete a request to resign from the university.

Auditors: The Department of Linguistics and TESOL has a "no audit" policy. Students attending LING classes must be officially enrolled in those courses. Exception: Students who have already fulfilled a degree requirements and would like to sit in on a comparable course to prepare for their comprehensive / diagnostic examination may do so (with the permission of the professor).

Gifts to Faculty: The Department of Linguistics and TESOL has a strict "no gift" policy: instructors may not accept gifts of any kind from students, including meals, food, or flowers. All linguistics instructors have been instructed to refuse gifts. Students can avoid placing their instructors in an awkward position by not offering them any gifts. Students wishing to honor their professors may make a contribution to the LING-TESOL Scholarship Fund; visit the department office (Hammond Hall 403) and ask for a "Gift Giving Guide."

Week / Topic / Reading / Quizzes and due dates
Week 1
Tuesday / 01-20 / Syllabus / None
Thursday / 01-22 / Intro to Linguistics / Files 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Week 2
Tuesday / 01-27 / Intro 2; Phonetics / Files 1.4, 1.5, 2.0, 2.1
Thursday / 01-29 / Phonetics / Files 2.2, 2.3
Week 3
Tuesday / 02-03 / Phonetics / Files 2.4, 2.5
Thursday / 02-05 / Phonetics: Acoustic Phonetics / File 2.6
Week 4
Tuesday / 02-10 / Morphology / Files 4.0, 4.1 / Phonetics Quiz
Thursday / 02-12 / Morphology / Files 4.2, 4.5
Week 5
Tuesday / 02-17 / Morphology / Files 4.3, 4.4
Thursday / 02-19 / Morphology;
Discussion on The Language Instinct, Chapters 1-4 / The Language Instinct Chapters 1-4 / Discussion questions due
Week 6
Tuesday / 02-24 / Phonology / Files 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 / Morphology Quiz
Thursday / 02-26 / Phonology / Files 3.4, 3.5
Week 7
Tuesday / 03-03 / Phonology / File 3.3
Thursday / 03-05 / UTASCILT Conference (No Class)
Week 8
Tuesday / 03-10 / Phonology;
Discussion on The Language Instinct, Chapters 5-7 / The Language Instinct Chapters 5-7 / Discussion questions due
Thursday / 03-12 / To be determined / To be determined / Phonology Quiz
Week 9
Tuesday / 03-17 / Spring Break
Thursday / 03-19 / Spring Break
Week 10
Tuesday / 03-24 / Syntax / Files 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Thursday / 03-26 / Syntax / Files 5.4, 5.5
Week 11
Tuesday / 03-31 / Syntax;
Discussion on The Language Instinct, Chapters 8-10 / File 5.6,
The Language Instinct Chapters 8-10 / Discussion questions due
Thursday / 04-02 / Syntax
Week 12
Tuesday / 04-07 / Semantics / Files 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 / Syntax Quiz
Thursday / 04-09 / Semantics / Files 12.6, 6.4, 6.5
Week 13
Tuesday / 04-14 / Pragmatics / Files 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3
Thursday / 04-16 / Pragmatics / Files 7.4, 7.5
Week 14
Tuesday / 04-21 / Historical Linguistics / Files 12.0, 12.1, 12.2 / Semantics and Pragmatics Quiz
Thursday / 04-23 / Historical Linguistics / Files 12.3, 12.7
Week 15
Tuesday / 04-28 / Historical Linguistics;
Discussion on The Language Instinct, Chapters 11-13 / The Language Instinct Chapters 11-13 / Discussion questions due
Thursday / 04-30 / Historical Linguistics / Files 12.4, 12.5
Week 16
Tuesday / 05-05 / To be determined / To be determined / Historical Linguistics Quiz
Thursday / 05-07 / To be determined / To be determined
Week 17
Tuesday / 05-12 / No class
Thursday / 05-14 / Final exam 2:00 – 4:30