Syllabus

Course description

This course has, broadly speaking, two complementary goals:

  1. to introduce you to the issues, assumptions, innovations, and investigative techniques of current theoretical linguistics; and
  2. to enhance your analytic reasoning skills and your sense for the scientific method.

We find tension between (1) and (2) only when we consider that the semester is short. Linguistics has many subfields: acoustic phonetics, articulatory phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and every combination thereof. It also interfaces with a range of other disciplines: communication disorders, computer science, discourse analysis, education, evolutionary biology, philosophy, political science, psychology, and every kind of language study. If we skimmed lightly over all of these areas, we wouldn't achieve goal (2). So we will be selective, concentrating on morphology, syntax, and pragmatics, in roughly that order. This will move us from the internal structure of words (morphology) up through their combination into phrases and sentences (syntax) and on into the realm of language use (pragmatics). The lectures and discussion sections will be sprinkled with phonetics and phonology.

It's our hope that the path towards achieving goals (1) and (2) will also enhance your awareness and appreciation of the extreme (though fragile) linguistic diversity of the world. It is possible that human languages are the most complex systems in the universe. This course is in part a chance to gaze in wonder at them.

Course materials

There is no required textbook, but the following is highly recommended:

Handouts and assignments will be given out in class and later made available at the course website. If you miss a class, you should check the website to see if new materials have appeared there. You cannot count on us to have spare handouts to give you, nor can you count on us to send you these materials by email.

Requirements and grading

All assignments must be turned in by the start of class on the day that they are due.

Participation

Participating regularly in the lectures and (especially) in the Friday discussions can positively impact your grade. Not participating would not directly impact your grade, but you would feel its effects, because your work would suffer (see below).

For extra credit

We will waive your lowest homework or quiz grade (including a 0) if you participate in an experiment run by the Linguistics Department. These experiments are open to everyone. They typically involve reading or listening and last about an hour. You can find out about and sign up for experiments at the Experimental Sign-up Database:

http://wwwx.oit.umass.edu/~linguist/esdb/

Be sure to obtain evidence of your participation from the experimenter.

At most one of your quiz or homework grades can be waived in this fashion.

Course policies

About the instructors

Unless otherwise noted, Chris designed all the quizzes, tests, lecture materials. He chose the topics, and he organized the semester. If any of this makes you grumpy, don't take it out on your TAs.

The TAs run their own Friday sections. They are expert teachers and researchers. You are in good hands. You should talk to them if you have questions or concerns about grading or the content of those sections. You can approach Chris as well, but he will probably defer to them.

Attendance

Chris will not take attendance. Your TAs might take attendance during their discussion sections. It is up to them. But regular attendance and active participation (or at least intellectual engagement) are essential to doing well in the course.

Your TA will often cover new material in discussion section (in addition to clarifying concepts and providing a forum for discussion). So the sections will be important to you even if you feel that you have complete command of the material covered in the lectures.

Academic honesty

The consequences of academic dishonesty are dire. If anything about the above policies is unclear, let us know. The University's academic honesty policy is here:

http://www.ecs.umass.edu/mie/ugrad/hon97.htm

Homework formatting

You need not type your assignments, though you are encouraged to do so, and there is no use avoiding the fact that the professional look of a neatly typed document can positively influence its evaluator. You might find it hard to type some assignments because they involve drawing diagrams and using special symbols. It is worth figuring out how to make a computer produce these things, but, as noted, it is not required.

Our official policy is to accept no electronic submission of work. It is possible that some of us will make exceptions, but never take for granted that we will.