LING 101- Introduction to Linguistics

Fall 2003

Sections: 022-027

Times and Places

• Lectures: Tuesday 11:00 - 12:15, Willard Hall 007
• Discussion section 022: Thursday 8:00 - 9:15, Brown Laboratory 112
• Discussion section 023: Thursday 9:30 - 10:45, Old College 122
• Discussion section 024: Thursday 12:30 - 1:45, Drake Hall 004
• Discussion section 025: Thursday 8:00 - 9:15, Gore Hall 114
• Discussion section 026: Thursday 12:30 - 1:45, Drake Hall 024
• Discussion section 027: Thursday 11:00 - 12:15, Sharp Laboratory 122

Instructors

• Professor: William Idsardi
  Office: 42 East Delaware Avenue, Room 102
  Phone and voice mail: 831-6886, Department office: 831-6806
  e-mail: idsardi@udel.edu
  www: http://www.ling.udel.edu/idsardi/
  Office hours: after class or by appointment (call 831-6806)
• Yaping Tsai
• Ngee Thai Yap
• Weiyi Ma

Textbooks

	FRH: Victoria Fromkin, Robert Rodman, and Nina Hyams. An Introduction to Language, Seventh edition. Boston: Heinle. 2003.
	FF: Paul R. Frommer and Edward Finegan. Looking at Languages: A Workbook in Elementary Linguistics, Second Edition. Boston: Heinle. 1999.
	These books are available as a package from the UD Bookstore.

World Wide Web Pages

http://www.ling.udel.edu/idsardi/101/

http://www.ling.udel.edu/ling/

Learning Goals

Linguistics 101 provides an introduction to the scientific study of human languages, concentrating on the similarity and diversity of the languages of the world. In addition we will examine and explore the properties of human language that make it unique; and that make it uniquely powerful in studying the human mind. We will be searching for answers to the questions, What does someone know when they know a language? and How do they get that knowledge?

The study of linguistic knowledge is divided into several areas: the study of sounds and their patterns (Phonetics and Phonology), words (Morphology), sentences (Syntax) and meanings (Semantics). Linguistics also studies how linguistic knowledge is applied in social situations in different cultures (Sociolinguistics), how languages change over time (Historical or Diachronic linguistics) and how people learn languages (Language Acquisition). These three areas all involve language comparison.

The diversity of human languages and the prominent role language plays in culture makes language a critically important factor in studying human behavior. For this reason LING 101 satisfies the UD multicultural and Arts and Science Group C requirements. The study of linguistics is concerned with every language, but you will notice that many of the examples come from non-Western languages. Homework assignments and exam questions will include data from many unfamiliar languages.

By the end of the course you should be able to:

• Transcribe English words phonetically
• Apply pronunciation rules
• Discover pronunciation rules from language data
• Diagram the internal structure of words
• Discover and justify word structures from language data
• Diagram the internal structure of sentences
• Discover and justify sentence structure from language data
• Explain differences of meaning
• Compare languages and dialects in terms of pronunciation, words, sentences and meanings
• Compare child language with adult language in terms of pronunciation, words, sentences and meanings

Learning Techniques

There are many different ways to learn, so we will try to experience as many different ways of learning as possible. Some people are still most comfortable with lectures and examples, so we will have lectures and discussion each week. Other people learn better when discussing problems together in groups, so we will do that too.

There are lecture notes online on the web. We will be intermixing the "theoretical" material with the "applied" material. This means that the readings will come from more than one chapter or set of notes.

I will be revising the notes as we go along in the course, so check back for updates

If you have a question at any time, please ask it. Other people will benefit too. If you want to ask a question by email, that's great too.

Grading

• Tests: 75% (3 x 25%)
• Homework and Participation: 25%

There is no final exam for this course.

Some tests will include short answer and multiple choice questions.

Test questions will include language analysis problems similar to the homework problems.

Do the readings before coming to class.

Homework is due on the day indicated on the schedule.

Homework must be handed in on time, otherwise you will receive a zero (assignments may be handed in early, too).

Only one question from each homework assignment will be graded.

Class attendance and participation are essential -- IF you do not show up THEN you will not do well!

If you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to contact me as soon as possible, preferably before the class.

Films

There are several films on linguistics available at the UD library. You can view these films in the Media Center in the basement of Morris Library.

We will watch one of these films during the first lecture.

Schedule