Download ENG 320-002: Introduction to Linguistics - Course Information and Schedule - Prof. Cala A. and more Study notes English Language in PDF only on Docsity!
ENG 320-002 Introduction to Linguistics
Tu & Th 9:30 – 10:45am Morton 210
Cala Zubair Office: 123 Morton Hall
Email: zubairc@uncw.edu
Phone: 910-962-
Office hours: Tu & Th 2-4pm or by appointment
Course Description: We begin with a brief introduction of speech production, or how speakers organize and produce sounds. Then we examine sentence structure and word meaning, learning to extract regularities from linguistic data. We conclude by discussing how knowledge about language patterns can be applied in context. This involves topics such as how English is spoken differently on the East and West coasts of the U.S., or in Britain vs. America, how speakers may talk differently to single- or mixed-gender groups, or how President Obama’s speech might be perceived differently by varied populations of speakers. Prerequisites: none.
Learning Goals: This course provides an introduction into the scientific study of language.
(1) You will learn various approaches to studying language, including linguistic sound, structure, and meaning. (2) You will become familiar with topics at the intersection of language and social use, such as linguistic variation and topics in language and culture (i.e., intercultural communication, language and gender). (3) You will study linguistic terminology, learn methods of linguistic analysis, and practice applying them.
Evaluation: Homework 45% Midterm 20% Final essay 25% Participation & Attendance 15%
Required Text:
Bergmann, A., Currie Hall, K., and Ross, S. (eds.). 2007. Language Files (10th ed.). Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University Press.
Assignments (90%):
Homework (45%): You will be given 10 homework assignments, each worth 5% of your grade with the lowest grade dropped. Homework will be due every Thursday starting the second week of the class and continue through the twelfth week. I require both a hard copy and an electronic copy of each assignment. The hard copy is to be handed in at the beginning of class on the day it is due. The electronic copy is to be emailed to me before class. NO EXCEPTIONS. I do not accept late homework. If any credit is given, it is at my discretion.
Midterm (20%): Following your first eight homework assignments, you will be given a midterm (currently scheduled for October 25 th^ but subject to minor change). This midterm will be administered in class. Make-up midterms are at my discretion, and only allowed in extreme circumstances. Do not be absent on midterm day! If you have concerns, please come talk to me.
Final essay (25%): Your final essay will be a take home exam to be handed in during the final exam period for this class. More details to follow.
Participation & attendance (10%):
Attendance and being one time are mandatory. Your attendance in this class is vital to your ability to learn. This class revolves around in-class discussion, which entails being present. I will deduct 1% from your grade each time you exceed your 3rd absence. For any absence, I expect to hear directly from you regarding the reason. Please do not miss class unless absolutely necessary! And do not be tardy! Though your grade will not be directly penalized for tardiness or the first 3 absences, frequent tardiness and absences will affect your homework grade (see my no late policy above), and it may figure in to my assessment of your willingness to participate. Please see me if you have any concerns.
Coursework: This is class involves both careful reading and time spent solving homework problems. On average I will assign you up to 3 hours of reading/studying for every Tuesday class and up to 3 hours of homework for every Thursday class (this means you will often be spending 6 hours on this course each week). While I cannot grade you on whether or not you complete each reading assignment, your ability to participate and complete homework and exams will suffer if you do not have a handle on course material. Do your reading and homework and do not fall behind. We will be moving along at a vigorous pace.
NOTE: Please bring your textbook to every class! If I have posted readings on blackboard, please print these and bring them.
Correspondence: The best way to reach me is email. However, I do not plan to check my email any
later than 7pm. Please plan ahead if you need to reach me.
Personal electronics: No! No phones, no texting, no laptops, no ipads or ipods. Silence your cell phones, close your PDAs/laptops/netbooks/iPads unless otherwise specified. Eyes on me or your fellow students. Frequent violations will affect your participation grade.
The UNCW Statement on Diversity in the University Community : As an institution of higher learning, the University of North Carolina Wilmington represents a rich diversity of human beings among its faculty, staff, and students and is committed to maintaining a campus environment that values that diversity. Accordingly, the university supports policies, curricula, and co-curricular activities that encourage understanding of and appreciation for all members of its community and will not tolerate any harassment or disrespect for persons because of race, gender, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, or relationship to other university constituents. Students with Disabilities information and resources available at http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/disability/
Religious Observance Policy : In accordance with NC SL 2010-211, you are entitled to two excused absences for religious observances per academic year. You must inform me in writing the first week of class if you will be missing any classes due to religious observance and using one of the two permissible absences for the academic year. In addition, please inform the Registrar the first week of class who will then confirm your intentions to miss class with the impacted course instructors. Any absence for religious purposes will be considered unexcused unless you submit the request in writing the first week to either me and the Registrar_._
Important Dates:
August 24 th^ – 30 th: Add/drop period September 5th^ : No class (Labor Day) October 11th^ : No class (Mid-semester break) October 25th^ : Midterm October 27th^ : No class November 17th^ : Guest speaker November 24th^ : No class (Happy Thanksgiving!) December 6th^ : Last day for this class December 13th^ @ 11:00am: Final essay due
Course Schedule
(subject to change)
Week 1: Class Introduction: Why study language?
Thursday: August 25
Week 2: Good language: Is there such a thing as “bad” grammar?/ Language: What we know
Tuesday: August 30 o Language Files. Files 1.0- 1.
Thursday: September 1
Assignment 1 : File 1.6, pp. 30-31: #1-2; #3 & #6; #12 (a-e)
Week 3: Arbitrariness in language/ Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Tuesday: September 6 o Language Files. File 1. o Language Files (9 th^ edition) : File 15. o Pinker, S. 2000. The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language. NY: Perennial Classics. (Chapter 3)
Thursday: September 8
Assignment 2 : File 1.6, pg 32: #19-
Week 4: Phonetics
Tuesday: September 13 o Language Files. Files 2.0-2.
Thursday: September 15
In class: IPA & Vocal tract relays
Assignment 3 : File 2.8, pp. 87-92: #5, #17 #19 (a-z), & #20 (a-z)/ Draw your own vocal tract. (Bonus: The top two submissions may opt to complete only 50% of assignment 4.)
Week 5: Phonology
Tuesday: September 20 o Language Files. Files 3.0-3.
o MIDTERM
Thursday: October 27 o NO CLASS
Week 11: Pragmatics/ Discourse Analysis
Tuesday: November 1 o Language Files (9th^ edition). Files 8.1-8. o Tannen, Deborah. Discourse Analysis. http://www.lsadc.org/info/ling-fields- discourse.cfm
Thursday: November 3
Assignment 9: USE 9 TH^ edition! File 8.2: #1/ File 8.4: #3-4, #6/ File 8.5: #
Week 12: Linguistic Variation
Tuesday: November 8 o Language Files. Files 10.0-10. o Language Files (9 th^ edition). File 10.
Thursday: November 10
Assignment 10: File 10.5: #1-4, #12-
Week 13: Research in the community/Sociolinguistic Field methods
Tuesday: November 15 o reading: tba
In class: Movie: Voices of North Carolina
Thursday: November 17 o reading: tba
In class: Guest speaker: Donna Crowe, Center for Leadership Education and Service
Week 14: Language and Culture
Tuesday: November 22 o Language Files. Files 13.0-13. o Tannen, Deborah. 1998. What other ways are there?: Listening to other cultures. The Argument Culture: Stopping America's War of Words. New York: Ballantine, pp. 208-
Week 15: Language and Gender
Tuesday: November 29 o Language Files (9 th^ edition). File 10. o Tannen, Deborah. 2000. You Just Don’t Understand. Women and Men In Conversation. New York: Ballantine, selections.
Thursday: December 1 o Tannen, Deborah. 2000. You Just Don’t Understand. Women and Men In Conversation. New York: Ballantine, selections.
DEC 2 ND^ @ 3:30 – 5:30pm in Randall Library: English in Action showcase
(http://uncw.edu/english/opportunities/showcase.html)
Week 16: Practical Applications/ Class debrief
Tuesday: December 6 o Language Files. Files 16.0-16.
FINAL ESSAY due DEC 13th^ @ 11:00am
