Introduction to Language and Linguistics

Curriculum guideline

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Course
LING 1101
Discontinued
No
Course code
LING 1101
Descriptive
Introduction to Language and Linguistics
Department
Modern Languages
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hrs/week

Seminar: 2 hrs/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

 Lectures, in-class tutorials, group work, group discussions, problem solving, data analysis, short reports by students

 

Course description
This course is an introduction to language structure. Students will develop an appreciation of structural similarities among languages despite apparent linguistic diversity. A variety of language samples drawn from different languages, 3 from the Indo-European family and 3 from non-Indo-European families, will be analysed. Topics will include the sound system (speech sounds, articulation, patterning), word formation (inflection, derivation, composition), sentence formation (parts of speech, phrases, clauses, deep/surface structure, X-bar theory, movement) and word meaning (lexical semantic relations) and sentence meaning (thematic roles, discourse).
Course content

1-Word Meaning

  • Semantic relations among words: synonymy/antonymy, polysemy/homophony
  • How these semantic relations affect sentences: paraphrase, entailment, contradiction
  • Meaning: connotation/denotation, extension/intention
  • Componential analysis, verb subcategorization (number and type of arguments a verb takes needed for syntax)
  • Conceptual system: fuzzy concepts (ill-defined lexical concepts can be accommodated by Prototype Theory), metaphor, lexicalization

2-Word Sounds

  • Phonetics: transcription, units of representation, sound system, articulation, articulatory processes (e.g., assimilation, deletion), production, supra-segmentals (e.g., (tone, stress)
  • Phonology: sound patterns: segments, phonemes and allophones (minimal pairs, complementary distribution, contrast), syllable, syllable structure, features (e.g., +/-bilabial), rules (for the distribution of a phoneme) and derivations (of allophonic variations)

3-Word Formation and Word Structure (morpho-phonology, morphology, theoretical, generative grammar)

  • Word structure: morphemes (bound and free, roots and affixes, type of affixes)
  • Derivation (forming new words by adding affixes to a base or root word; e.g.,  verb -> noun (decide -> decision), adjective  -> adverb (happy -> happily) and inflection (modifying words to express different grammatical features such as tense (+ed  past tense marker), number (+s to show  plurality), etc.
  • Inflection versus derivation
  • Compounding, endocentric/exocentric compounds
  • Morphological processes (e.g., affixation, blending may involve a change in sound as well as in morphological structure)

4-Phrase Structure (morpho-syntax, syntax) (theoretical, generative grammar)

  • Word categories (parts of speech)
  • Phrases structure: X-bar theory: heads, specifiers, complements
  • Minimalist syntax: merge operation
  • Tests for phrase structure

5-Clauses

  • Complement clauses
  • Movement (in questions) + landing site (where the moved word goes to)
  • Deep and surface structure
  • Universal grammar and parametric variations
  • Other (modifiers, relative clauses, passives, VP internal subject)

6-Sentence Meaning (semantics)

  • Syntax and sentence interpretation (generative grammar)
  • Structural ambiguity
  • Thematic roles (e.g., agent), thematic role assignment
  • Binding theory (interpretation of noun phrases using three Binding principles: Principle A (Anaphors),  Principle B (Pronouns), Principle C (R-expressions)
  • Other factors in sentence interpretation
  • Role of beliefs and attitudes, presupposition, setting
  • Discourse and conversational maxims (relevance, quality, quantity, manner)

 

Learning outcomes

 Students will develop an appreciation of linguistic diversity by analyzing a variety of language samples drawn from different languages, Indo-European and non-Indo-European.

By the end of term, the successful student will:

  • demonstrate understanding of the principles of the structural system underlying human language (a good knowledge of grammar in general that can be applied to analyze any language and a good theoretical foundation if the student is to continue in linguistics);
  • be able to analyze and describe language samples;
  • demonstrate an appreciation of linguistic diversity (be aware of the different ways a concept can be structurally encoded in languages);
  • distinguish similarities and differences between languages and language families.

 

Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in a course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation must be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline. 

A typical assessment would include the following elements: 

  • Attendance/participation/preparation: 15% 

  • Short oral reports as part of in class discussions: 25% 

  • Four assignments at 5% each (data analysis, problem solving): 20% 

  • Four exams: 20% 

  • Portfolio: 5% (to accompany the poster, as a way of keeping track of the progress) 

  • Poster presentation: 15% (final work) 

(Note: no assignment will be more than 20%) 

 

 

Textbook materials

A current edition of a textbook such as the following:

O’Grady, W. & Archibald, J. (eds). Contemporary Linguistic Analysis. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada, Inc.

 

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

None

Which prerequisite

None