LING 200: Introduction
to linguistic thought
Winter 2007 (rev 3/9/07)
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Instructor: |
Alicia Beckford Wassink |
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Office: |
Padelford A217 |
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Office Hours: |
MW 3:45 – 4:30p (and
by appointment) |
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Phone: |
616-9589 (Note: I rarely
check voicemail; email is preferred) |
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Ling. Dept phone: |
543-2046 |
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Email: |
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Website: |
http://faculty.washington.edu/~wassink |
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Classroom: |
Bagley 131 |
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Meeting time: |
MWF 2:30 – 3:20pm |
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Course Website: |
http://faculty.washington.edu/~wassink/LING200W07syll.html |
This course will introduce
you to the field of linguistics: the scientific study and analysis of human
language. In this course, you will learn both about the diversity of human
language as well as some of its universal characteristics. The central goal of
this course is to develop an understanding of what language is, how it is
structured, and how it is represented in the mind. In pursuit of these goals,
we will discuss answers to the following questions:
·
What does it mean to know a language?
·
How do we acquire this
knowledge?
·
How do we use language
in different individual, cultural, and social contexts?
The first half of the course will be devoted to
surveying some of the core subfields of linguistics: phonetics (the study of the perception/production of speech
sounds), phonology (the study of
sound systems and patterns), morphology (the study of word formation and structure), and syntax (the study of sentence structure). In the latter part
of the course, students are introduced to several of linguistics’
interdisciplinary subfields, including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and computational linguistics, which interface with other fields such as psychology,
neurology, sociology, and computer science.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for LING 200; however it is
not open for credit to students
who have taken LING 400. Likewise, if you have already taken another
introduction to linguistics course in a different department (e.g., ENGL 390,
ASIAN 401, SPHSC 303, etc.), you should not take this class.
TA sections
(Mailboxes
for all TAs are in Padelford A210; “@u...” is an abbreviation for
“@u.washington.edu”)
|
Sec. |
TTh |
Classroom |
TA |
Office hrs. |
Office |
email |
|
AA |
830-920a |
DEN 205 |
Jonathan
North Washington |
TTh 1030-1130 |
LA1 110 |
jonwash@u... |
|
AB |
830-920a |
DEN 314 |
Kristi
Krein |
Wed 930-1130 |
LA1 110 |
kreink@u... |
|
AC |
930-1020a |
RAI 109 |
Kristi
Krein |
Wed 930-1130 |
LA1 110 |
kreink@u... |
|
AD |
930-1020a |
SAV 151 |
Jonathan
North Washington |
TTh 1030-1130 |
LA1 110 |
jonwash@u... |
|
AE |
1030-1120a |
LOW 111 |
Meghan
Oxley |
WF 1230-130 |
LA1 110 |
what@u... |
|
AF |
1130a-1220p |
LOW 115 |
Meghan
Oxley |
WF 1230-130 |
LA1 110 |
what@u... |
|
AG |
1230-120p |
MOR 226 |
Galen
Basse |
MW 1-220 |
ART 333 |
halo@
u... |
|
AH |
1230-120p |
MUE 154 |
Sarah
Churng |
M
930-1130 |
LA1 110 |
ashra@u... |
|
AI |
1030-1120a |
MGH 389 |
Galen
Basse |
MW 1-220 |
ART 333 |
halo@u... |
|
AJ |
230-320p |
DEN 212 |
Sarah
Churng |
M
930-1130 |
LA1 110 |
ashra@u... |
Ø
Tserdanelis, G. and
Wong, W. Y. P., eds. (2004) Language
Files: Materials for an introduction to language and linguistics (9th ed.). Columbus: Ohio State University
Press.
The textbook can be purchased at the UW Bookstore (http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/).
Be sure you buy the latest edition (9th ed.).
Ø
The Language Learning Center,
Denny Hall basement, has practice materials for several units. Point your
browser to:
http://depts.washington.edu/llc/olr/linguistics/index.php
Ø
FYI:
Some books that might help you with your parts of speech:
Gordon, K. E. (1993) The Deluxe Transitive Vampire, New York: Pantheon.
Barry, Anita K. (1998) English Grammar:
language as Human Behavior,
Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Hurford, James R. (1994) Grammar: A student's guide.
Cambridge: Cambridge, UP
Requirements
1. Exams (55% of course grade)
There
will be two exams. The first is a midterm exam (Feb. 9 – 25% of grade)
and will cover the topics of the first six weeks of class. The second and final
exam (Mar. 13 – 30% of grade) is cumulative, covering material from the
entire course. An in-class review led by the TAs will be scheduled prior to
each exam in the discussion sections. The exam format will primarily be
multiple choice. You will need to purchase a Standard Answer Sheet (and use
a No. 2 pencil) for both the midterm and the final.
**See Policies regarding make-up exams, below.**
The
final examination for this course is scheduled for Tuesday Mar 13 2:30-4:20 BAG 131 (rev
3/1/07)
2. Homeworks (20% of
course grade)
Approximately every
week, you will be assigned a homework assignment in section, which will be due the following week in section (due dates to be determined). These assignments will
test your knowledge and skills of that week’s topic. Your grades on these homework
assignments (minus your lowest grade, which will be dropped) will combine to
make up 20% of your course grade.
You must turn in the
original copy of your homework. No photo-copied assignments will be
accepted. All work should exclusively be your own. If we think that one
person is doing the work for several, everyone involved will receive a zero for
that particular assignment.
**See
Policies regarding late homework
assignments.**
3. Quizzes (15% of
course grade)
Throughout the quarter, a series of quizzes will test
your knowledge of the readings, lecture content, and class discussions. They
may or may not be announced ahead of time. You should always come to section
prepared to take a quiz on the lecture material and recent course readings.
Your grades on these quizzes (minus your lowest grade, which will be dropped)
will combine to make up 15% of your course grade. The format of the quizzes
will primarily be True/False, matching, or short-answer and will serve as a
practice for the exams.
4. Participation (10%
of course grade)
The discussions, group exercises, and demonstrations
that will take place in the lectures and sections will benefit greatly from
your regular attendance and participation. Although attendance is not
specifically required, participation is. Your class participation grade will be
calculated based on your informed contribution to class discussions and participation in class
activities. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to seek out a classmate,
discuss the class with him or her, and get a copy of his or her notes. Do
not send the lecturer or section
instructor an e-mail asking if anything important was covered or to summarize
the class. Such emails will not be
answered. Participation grades are administered by the TAs.
Grading
The following UW grading
scale will be used (www.washington.edu/students/gencat/front/Grading_Sys.html):
Percent =
Grade
≥ 95% = 4.0 88 = 3.3 81 = 2.6 74 = 1.9 67 = 1.2
94 = 3.9 87 = 3.2 80 = 2.5 73 = 1.8 66 = 1.1
93 = 3.8 86 = 3.1 79 = 2.4 72 = 1.7 65 = 1.0
92 = 3.7 85 = 3.0 78 = 2.3 71 = 1.6 64 = .9
91 = 3.6 84 = 2.9
77 = 2.2 70 = 1.5 63 = .8
90 = 3.5 83 = 2.8 76 = 2.1 69 = 1.4 62 = .7
89 = 3.4 82 = 2.7 75 = 2.0 68 = 1.3 (< .7 is
a failing grade)
Policies
Ø
Readings
The
assigned readings are to be read in advance of the lectures. The readings complement the lectures and provide the
necessary background; however, you should not assume that they will be fully
summarized or reviewed in class. Students should be prepared to evaluate,
integrate, or respond to the readings in class discussions.
Ø
Make-up
exam/quizzes
There will be no opportunities to retake,
postpone, or take an exam early. Make-up exams will only be allowed for (1)
University sanctioned events (verification required) or (2) extraordinary
circumstances (verification will be required BEFORE the make-up event is
scheduled – e.g., physician's note). If you know you are going to miss an
exam, please notify me as soon as possible BEFORE the exam so other
arrangements can be made.
Because you are given the opportunity to drop the
lowest quiz grade, there are likewise no opportunities to make up or repeat
quizzes.
Ø
Late
homework assignments
Homework assignments must be handed in at the
beginning of class on the day it is due or it is considered late. Any
assignments turned in after the beginning of class but before class is dismissed
will receive a late grade penalty. Assignments turned in after class is dismissed receive no credit. No
exceptions.
Because you are given the opportunity to drop the
lowest grade, there are no opportunities to make up homework assignments.
Ø
Special
needs
To request academic
accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services,
448 Schmitz, 543-8924 (V), 543-8925 (TTY), uwdss@u.washington.edu. If you have a letter
from DSS indicating that you have a disability which requires special academic
accommodations, please present the letter to your instructor as soon as
possible so the proper accommodations can be discussed and met.
Ø
Academic
integrity
Students are expected to maintain the highest
standards of academic ethics, honesty and integrity. Academic misconduct
includes (but is not limited to) plagiarism, harassment, cheating, or
representing another person’s work as your own, and will not be tolerated. It
is your responsibility to read and understand the University’s expectations in
this regard (which you can find in the back of your UW Student Planner or
online at http://www.washington.edu/students/handbook/conduct.html).
Any student found to be in violation of proper academic conduct will be dealt
with in the strictest manner in accordance with University policy.
Schedule
**Note: It is possible that
dates, topics and reading assignments may change in order to accommodate class
needs. You will be notified of any changes ahead of time.
***Note: There is no graded
homework the first week of class. However, study questions will be provided
before the video on 1/5. Write down your responses to these, and be prepared to
discuss them in section Tuesday 1/9.
|
Week |
Day |
Topic |
Readings |
Today’s slides |
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1 |
W 1/3 |
Course overview, review of syllabus |
1.1-1.2 |
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[TH 1/4 |
NO SECTIONS] |
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F 1/5 |
What is language? Video: The Human Language Series, no. 1 |
1.3-1.4 |
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2 |
M 1/8 |
Design features, animal communication |
2.1-2.4 |
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W 1/10 |
Phonetics 1: Anatomy & transcription |
3.1-3.2 |
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F 1/12 |
Phonetics 2: Consonants |
3.3 |
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3 |
M 1/15 |
**NO CLASSES – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed** |
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W 1/17 |
Phonetics 3: Vowels; Speech synthesis and recognition |
3.4, 14.4-14.5 |
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F 1/19 |
Phonology 1: Phonemes & allophones |
4.1-4.2 |
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4 |
M 1/22 |
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