ENG 478 Introduction to Linguistics
Spring 2002     4:00-5:15 TTh     144 Rike Hall

Course Description: Linguistics is the science of language. In a survey of features of many languages, including English, we will study topics like phonology, morphology, history, and grammar. We will discuss properties languages have in common and some ways they differ. The course will also cover various subfields in linguistics and will introduce a large number of special terms and concepts. A background in language study is very helpful but not required.

Course Objectives: This course will help you understand the nature, structure, and use of language. You will look at how language works. You will be equipped with the basic tools for the analysis of language structure and will be prepared for future studies in language theory and for the use of basic linguistic concepts.

Course Requirements:  
    Four Quizzes 30%
    Midterm Exam 30%
    Final Exam 30%
    Language Portfolio 10% (Fourth-hour project)

Text: Stewart and Vaillette, eds. Language Files, 8th ed. Columbus: Ohio State U P, 2001. Please bring this book to class every day

Tentative Course Outline
Unit  Topic  Readings
I  INTRODUCTION  Section 1, Files 1.1-1.3    Course information.  
Introduction to basic concepts in linguistics
PHONETICS  Section 3, Files 3.1-3.7  The Phonetic Alphabet
Place and Manner of Articulation
II  PHONOLOGY 

Section 4, File 4.1  Phonetic Descriptions
Natural Classes, Distinctive Sounds
Section 4, Files 4.2-4.6 Phonemes and Allophones, Rules
Phonology Problems
III  MORPHOLOGY  Section 5, Files 5.1-5.6  Morphemes and Allomorphs
Word formation rules and processes
Morphemic Analysis
MIDTERM EXAM
IV  SYNTAX AND GRAMMAR Section 6 Files 6.1-6.3   Constituency and Structure
English Sentence Structure 
Section 6, Files 6.4-6.7   Phrase Structure Rules  
Transformations
VI SEMANTICS AND PRAGMATICS Section 7, Files 7.1-7.5  Theories of Semantics
Semantic Relations
Speech Acts and Sentence types
Section 8, Files 8.1-8.3  Rules of Conversation
VII  PSYCHOLINGUISTICS  Section 9, Files 9.1-9.2    Language and the Brain
Language Acquisition
Section 9, Files 9.3-9.5    Developmental Milestones 
How language is processed
VIII LANGUAGE CONTACT & VARIATION Section 10, Files 10.1-10.5    Pidgins and Creoles
How languages develop;   Regional and social dialects
Section 11, Files 11.1-11.3   Language and Ethnicity
Features of African-American English
IX 

HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS

 Section 12, Files 12.1-12.3     Phonetic Change
Section 12, File 12.10-12   Milestones in the History of English 

FINAL EXAMINATION (Tuesday, June 4, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in 144 Rike)

Four quizzes will be given approximately every other week. Your best three quizzes will count. The quizzes, midterm and final will be mostly objective. You will have at least a one-week warning about any quiz or exam.

Keep a language portfolio or scrapbook into which you put things you find during the quarter that relate to language. When you hand it in at the end, the portfolio should contain at least ten items you have collected during the quarter. Write a paragraph on each item describing its linguistic interest and relating it (as far as you can) to the theory we have studied this quarter; if your item illustrates a particular use of language, identify the phonological, morphological syntactic or other patterns it illustrates. If your item addresses a larger linguistic issue in politics, law or society, discuss its significance.

Instructor: Henry Limouze <henry.limouze@wright.edu>

Links for students of linguistics 

The Language Files Home Page (http://ling.ohio-state.edu/files/files.html)

Phonemic charts of English Vowels and English Consonants 

Exercises: 

Basic Phonemic Transcription 
Intermediate Phonemic Transcription 
Problems in Phonemic Transcription (Stress, Syllabic Consonants) 

Return to Henry Limouze's Home Page 

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