Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.
See also the schedule of topics for an overview.
W Aug 20
- Covered: Introduction to the course; What is linguistics? [outline]
- Reading:
- CL Ch 1, especially sec 3 -- background for today's class discussion
- LM Ch 7, "Whose speech is better?"
- Prepare: Discussion assignment
F Aug 22
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 7, "Whose speech is better?," and the associated discussion assignment [Class references and links]
- Reading: CL Ch 2, sec 1-4
M Aug 25
- Covered:
[outline]
- Introduction to phonetics and phonetic symbols
- Vocal tract and place of articulation
- Reading: CL Ch 2, sec 5
- Prepare: If you have a pocket mirror, please bring it to class on Wed
W Aug 27
- Covered: Consonant properties [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 2, sec 6
- Here is more information about American English vowels (includes audio files)
- Assignment: HW #1, due F Aug 29
F Aug 29
- Covered: Vowel properties [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 3, sec 1
- Practice: Try phonetically transcribing words from Kevin Russell's web pages:
[ short
/ medium
/ longer
words ]
- You can do your transcription practice on paper; you don't have to input symbols on the web page
- But this web site is useful for providing sound files, and answers for checking your work
- Bring any questions you find you have to class on Wednesday
M Sept 1
-
No class -- Labor Day
W Sept 3
- Covered:
[outline]
- Finishing up vowels: Tense/lax vowels, diphthongs (from Friday's outline)
- Transcription practice: Comments or questions?
- Transition to phonology: Natural classes and minimal pairs
- Reading: LM Ch 4, "Are sign languages real languages?"
- Assignment: HW #2, due M Sept 8
F Sept 5
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 4, "Are sign languages real languages?," and the associated discussion assignment
- Reading: CL Ch 3, sec 2-3
- Assignment reminder: HW #2, due M Sept 8
M Sept 8
- Covered: Complementary and contrastive distribution; phonemes and allophones (data handout provided in class) [outline]
- Reading:
- CL Ch 3, sec 4.1
- CL Ch 3, sec 6 (all) -- don't worry about the fine details of syllable structure; just try to see how the phonological rules relate to the language examples
- CL Ch 3, Appendix
- Prepare: Here is the data handout (PDF) for Wednesday's class. You may wish to print it out and bring it with you. Also, feel free to try it on your own and see how far you can get with the analysis.
W Sept 10
- Covered: Phonological rules; complementary distribution in English [outline]
- Reading: Review assigned sections of CL Ch 3 -- any questions?
- Prepare: We will discuss the Greek problem (PDF) on Friday
F Sept 12
- Covered: More on phonological rules [outline]
- Reading: LM Ch 10, "English spelling is hard... Should we do anything about it?"
- Assignment: HW #3, due W Sept 17 | available by the end of the day on F Sept 12
M Sept 15
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 10, "English spelling is hard...," and the associated discussion assignment
- Reading:
- CL Ch 4, pp 111-113 (through end of Table 4.1)
- CL Ch 4, Appendix (pp 140-142)
- Assignment reminder: HW #3, due W Sept 17
W Sept 17
- Covered: Introduction to morphology; identifying morphemes [outline]
- Reading:
- CL Ch 5, sec 1.1, "Categories of words"
- CL Ch 4, rest of sec 1, "Words and word structure"
F Sept 19
- Covered: The structure of words
[outline]
- Optional supplementary reading on the definition of word: Dixon & Aikhenvald (2002) (Blackboard > Course documents > Readings)
- Reading:
- CL Ch 4, sec 2, "Derivation" (sec 2.2 won't be on the exam but might be useful to know)
- CL Ch 4, sec 3, "Compounding"
- CL Ch 4, sec 4, "Inflection"
M Sept 22
- Covered: Derivation, inflection, and compounding [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 4, sec 6, "Morphophonemics"
- Prepare:
- Make a list of all the consonant phonemes of English
- Try to find a regular verb that ends with every consonant (it won't be possible to do this for all of the consonants, but get as many as you can)
- Based on the sec 6 reading, can you group your verbs into three sets, depending on how their regular past-tense morpheme is phonetically realized?
W Sept 24
- Covered: Morphophonemics [no outline]
- Reading: LM Ch 3, "Does language equal thought?"
- Assignment: HW #4, due M Sept 29
F Sept 26
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 3, "Does language equal thought?" and the associated discussion assignment
- Reading: CL Ch 5, sec 1, "Categories and structure"
- Assignment reminder: HW #4, due M Sept 29
M Sept 29
- Covered: Introduction to syntax: Phrase structure [outline]
- Prepare: EXAM #1 is on F Oct 3
- Study guide -- there will be time for questions and review on Wednesday
- If there are any topics you know you would like to review in class, you are welcome to send me an e-mail by Wed morning
W Oct 1
- Covered: Review for exam
F Oct 3
- EXAM #1
M Oct 6
- Covered: Practice with the X' schema and constituency tests [outline]
- Reading:
- CL Ch 5, sec 2, "Complement options"
- Online CL reading on modifiers
- CL Ch 6, sec 3.2, "Structural ambiguity"
W Oct 8
- Covered: Structural ambiguity; complement options [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 5, sec 3, "Move"
- Assignment: HW #5, due F Oct 10
F Oct 10
- Covered: Movement: Questions [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 5, sec 4, "Universal Grammar and parametric variation"
M Oct 13
- Covered: Syntax beyond English [outline]
- Reading: LM Ch 6, "Can computers learn language?"
- Assignment: HW #6, due M Oct 20
W Oct 15
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 6, "Can computers learn language?" and the associated discussion assignment
- Reading: CL Ch 6, intro, sec 1 (on meaning), sec 2.3 (lexicalization of concepts)
- Assignment reminder: HW #6, due M Oct 20
- FYI: A model solution to part C of HW #5 (the trees for an ambiguous sentence, using the modifier structure) is available on Blackboard (in Course documents > Homework)
F Oct 17
-
No class -- Fall Break
M Oct 20
- Covered: Semantics -- Introduction; morpheme/word meaning [outline]
- Reading: Review CL Ch 6, sec 1.2 (sentence meaning)
W Oct 22
- Covered: Sentence meaning and truth conditions [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 6, sec 4
F Oct 24
- Covered: Meaning in context -- Presuppositions; conversational maxims [outline]
- Reading: LM Ch 2, "From one language to the next"
- Assignment: HW #7, due W Oct 29
- FYI: Comments on HW #6 have been posted to Blackboard (Course documents > Homework)
M Oct 27
- Covered: Discussion based on LM Ch 2, "From one language to the next," and the associated discussion assignment
- Reading: CL Ch 11, sec 1, 2, 4
- Assignment reminder: HW #7, due W Oct 29
W Oct 29
- Covered: Child language acquisition
[outline]
- Goals, methodology
- Acquisition of phonology
- Reading: [Change in plans] We'll continue discussing the acquisition of phonology and morphology on Friday
F Oct 31
- Covered: Child language acquisition of phonology, morphology [outline (cont. from last time)]
- Reading: CL Ch 11, sec 5
- Optional: Here are two videos about acquisition of syntax that we'll be watching and discussing in class on Monday
M Nov 3
- Covered: Child language acquisition of syntax [outline]
- Upcoming: EXAM #2 is on F Nov 7
- Study guide -- there will be time for questions and review in class on Wed
W Nov 5
- Covered:
- Review for exam -- study guide
-
Some discussion of mechanisms of child language acquisition[outline, FYI]
- Prepare: EXAM #2 is on F Nov 7
F Nov 7
- EXAM #2
M Nov 10
- Covered: Sociolinguistics: Language vs. dialect; regional varieties [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 15: chapter intro, sec 2.1, sec 2.2
W Nov 12
- Covered: Ling analysis of language varieties; factors influencing choice of variety [outline]
- Reading: Prepare for a discussion day on Friday by reading Eckert (2005)
- See discussion assignment page for link to paper
F Nov 14
- Covered: Discussion of Eckert (2005) and the associated discussion exercise
- Reading: CL Ch 7, sec 1, 3, 4, 5
M Nov 17
- Covered:
- Wrap-up of discussion on sociolinguistics
- Language change: morphology, syntax, lexicon [outline; to be continued on Wednesday]
- Reading: CL Ch 7, sec 2, sec 6 (6.3 is FYI only)
W Nov 19
- Covered: Language change: morphology, syntax, lexicon [outline]
- Reading: Review CL Ch 7, sec 2, sec 6 (6.3 is FYI only)
- Assignment: HW #8 (PDF), due M Nov 24
- Additional exam credit: You may choose to do the following for up to 10 points to be added to your Exam #2 score -- due F Nov 21
- Answer question (8), option (c), from the exam [if you answered (c) on the exam, you may do (a) or (b) instead]
- Try to use concepts from class in your answer as much as possible
- You are welcome to collaborate with your classmates in doing this
F Nov 21
- Covered: Sound change; comparative reconstruction [outline]
- Reading: CL Ch 16, sec 1-sec 4
- Assignment reminder: HW #8 (PDF), due M Nov 24
M Nov 24
- Covered: Writing systems [outline]
- Reading: LM Ch 5, "Do animals have language?"
W Nov 26
-
No class -- Thanksgiving
F Nov 28
-
No class -- Thanksgiving
M Dec 1
- Covered: LM Ch 5, "Do animals have language?" and the associated discussion assignment
- Prepare: On Wednesday, we will review for the final exam; bring questions if you have them
- Covered: Discussion of HW #9, and linguistic argumentation
- Prepare: Study guide for final exam
- Review session M Dec 8 at 4pm (room TBA)