This course is an introduction to linguistics, the scientific study of human language. We will focus on some basic questions about language: What do we actually know when we know a language? How are languages structured? Are there properties that all languages share?

We will cover the main areas of linguistic theory: morphology (word structure), phonetics (sounds), phonology (sound patterns), and syntax (sentence structure). Along the way, we will also look at how children acquire language (language acquisition), as well as how languages change over time (historical linguistics).

Fromkin, V. et al. 2000. Linguistics: An Introduction to Linguistic Theory. Malden, MA: Blackwell.

http://dstmte.net/lgcs10_02

Exams (60%). There will be four exams, roughly every four weeks, each worth 15% of your grade. The last exam will be held during finals week, on Tuesday, December 14th, at 2PM. Exam dates are otherwise not set, but I will give you at least two weeks notice before an exam. There will be no make-up exams. If you absolutely cannot make it to an exam, you must let me know in advance.

Homework assignments (30%). Homework assignments will teach you how to do linguistics more than anything else. If you want to do well in this course, do the homework assignments! AND make sure you understand the solutions to the assignments, which we will go over together in class. In general, assignments will be assigned every Thursday, and will be due the following Thursday, in class, at the beginning of class. Assignments must be typed unless I specify otherwise. No electronic submissions will be accepted. No late assignments will be accepted. If you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you (or someone you know) can put your assignment in my mailbox in the linguistics department by the beginning of class. You may work together on assignments, as long as you (i) write up the assignment you turn in on your own, and (ii) write the name of the person you worked with at the top of the page below yours.

Attendance (6%) and Participation (4%). You may miss up to two lectures without penalty and without excuses. These two absences should be enough to cover most illnesses, family emergencies, and days of religious observance. If your absences do not exceed two, you get the full six points for the attendance portion of your grade. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will be reduced by two points for each excess absence, up to a maximum of six points. If you feel you merit an exception to this rule, then you should talk to me about it at the end of the semester. I will look at your attendance record and ask you to explain your absences.

Email is the best way to contact me.
meredith.landman -at- gmail.com

Wednesdays from 2-4PM, or by appointment, EDMS 203.

Be aware of regulations on academic honesty! Ask me when in doubt. The following are considered to be cheating: copying or sharing all or part of a homework assignment; copying answers from books; copying or sharing information during an exam.