Introduction to English Linguistics (2007 Fall)


Instructor: Jong-Bok Kim
Email: jongbok@khu.ac.kr or jongbokkim@gmail.com
http://web.khu.ac.kr/~jongbok/
Tel: 961-0892
Office: Faculty bld: 308

Course Descriptions

 Linguistics is the science of language. This course surveys the features of languages focusing on English. In particular, we will study topics like phonetics (sound systems), phonology (sound patterns), morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure), semantics (meaning), pragmatics (language use), and language acquisition (language learning). Through looking at these aspects of English, this course will help students understand the nature, structure, and use of English. Looking at how language (in particular, English) works, students 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.

Main Textbook

Excerpts from the references

References

[1] Akmajian et al. 1995. Linguistics. MIT Press.

[2] Fromkin, V. and R. Rodman. 1998. An Introduction to Language. Harcourt Brace.

[3] Dept. of Linguistics, Ohio State Univ. Language Files.

 

 

Lecture Notes

Textbook

Assignments

Week 1 

 

 

  Nature of Language and Linguistics

 

 Chap 1

Read "Do animals have language" and write a short summary or essay on this whose length does not exceed 2 A4 pages (single-space typed)

Week 2 

 

 Phonetics

 Chap 2

Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

Week 3

 

  Phonology 

 Chap 2

Read "How do we acquire language" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

 Week 4

 

 

 Phonology

 Chap 3

 Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

Week 5

 

 

 Morphology

 Chap 4

Read "Phonological structure" and write one A-4 page summary

 Week 6

 

  No class

 

 Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

Week 7

)

  Morphology

 

 Chap 4

 

8

 

 

 Mid term

 

 

9

 

 Syntax

 Chap5

Read "syntactic structure" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

 Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

 

10

 

 Syntax

 Chap 5

Read "The code talker paradox" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

 

11

 

 Semantics/Pragmatics

 Chap 6

 Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

12

 

 Semantics/Pragmatics

 Chap 8

Read "How children learn language?" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

13

 

Language Acquistiion/Sign Language/Writing Systems

 Chap 8

Chapter exerercises (handwritten)

Read "Are sign languaes real languages?" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

14

 

  Computational Linguistics & Metaphors  we live by  

 Chap 9

Read "Can computers learn language?" and write one A-4 page summary or essay

15

 

 Review

 

 

16

 

   Final

 

Read Concepts we live by --Metaphor & cultural coherence

 

You are expected to attend class regularly and to complete weekly readings and assignments. You can miss one class with the condition of writing to me prior to the class. If you miss three classes, your grade will be lower than B+.

The summary and essary assignments must be typed. The chapter exercises must be hand-written. Remember no fancy cover page is needed for all the assignments: this is a waste of paper.

Each assignment must be handed in at the beginning of class.

You may work in groups, but you must write up the problem set on your own and identify the people you have worked with.

The assessment of this class is based on how each student performs, not based on how the others perform (no relative assessement).

Midterm 35%, Final 35%, Exercises 10%, Summary/Essay 10%, Attendance and participation 10%