Instructor: Vivian Lin
E-mail: vilin@wisc.edu
Phone: 262-7899
Office: 1166 Van Hise Hall
Office Hours: Th 2-4pm
Teaching Assistants: Whitney Barnebey, Alexandra Galambos,
Becky Shields
This is an introductory-level course that explores the field of linguistics. It is intended for majors and non-majors. During the semester, we will investigate the basic theories and methods of the different core sub-fields of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. The majority of the work for this course is problem-solving based. Students should be prepared to apply theories and concepts from the readings during lectures and discussion sections, and on assignments.
Note: This course is cross-listed in a variety of different forms, including Linguistics 301 and Anthropology 301.
Problem Sets and Answer Keys
Web Links
Handouts
| Syllabus | Course Requirements | Grading | Policy on Collaboration |
O'Grady et al. 2004.
Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction, 5th Edition. Bedford/St. Martin's.
Available at University Bookstore.
Note: Problem Set assignments will be posted on Mondays (indicated in red below).
| Week | Date | Topic | Reading | |
| 1 | 1/23 [Note: NO SECTIONS this week] |
Course Introduction | ||
| 2 | 1/28-1/30 [Sections Start This Week] |
Foundational Issues; Phonetics | Chapter 1; Chapter 2 | |
| 3 | 2/4-2/6 | Phonetics | Chapter 2 | |
| 4 | 2/11-2/13 | Acoustic Phonetics Lecture [.html]; finish Articulatory Phonetics | Chapter 18, pgs. 589-592; [Background: see Web Links page ]; Acoustic Phonetics Lecture [4-up, .pdf, 2.6MB]; Chapter 2 | |
| 5 | 2/18-2/20 | Phonology | Chapter 3 | |
| 6 | 2/25 | FIRST EXAM | ||
| 2/27 | Phonology | Chapter 3 | ||
| 7 | 3/3-3/5 | Phonology | Chapter 3 | |
| 8 | 3/10-3/12 | Morphology | Chapter 4 | |
| --- | 3/15-3/23 | SPRING BREAK | --- | 9 | 3/24-3/26 | Morphology | Chapter 4 |
| 10 | 3/31-4/2 | Morphology; Morphophonology | Chapter 4 | |
| 11 | 4/7 | SECOND EXAM | ||
| 4/9 | Morphology | Chapter 4 |
||
| 12 | 4/14-4/16 | Syntax | Chapter 5 | |
| 13 | 4/21-4/23 | Syntax | Chapter 5 |
|
| 14 | 4/28-4/30 | Syntax/Semantics | Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 | |
| 15 | 5/5-5/7 | Syntax/Semantics | Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 | |
| TUES 5/13 | FINAL EXAM [10:05AM-12:05PM] |
1. Readings
Specific pages from chapters in O'Grady et al. (assigned in lecture);
class handouts; references on the web. Assigned readings should be
completed before lecture.
2. Attendance
Attendance is mandatory. We will sometimes
cover material in lecture which is not in the textbook; additionally, there will be times when I disagree with the textbook. Students are responsible for knowing all materials as they are presented in lecture.
If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to borrow notes from a classmate. Do not ask the instructor for lecture notes.
3. Problem Sets
There will be weekly problem sets (9 total).
Problem sets will be posted on the course website on Mondays and will be due at the
start of lecture the following Monday. (This may be modified
slightly in weeks with exams or holidays.)
Problem sets will
be marked on a scale of 4 (best) to 0 (worst). These marks should be
understood as indicators of credit/partial credit/no credit received
for having done the assignment; they are not necessarily reflective of whether or not you have answered all of the questions correctly. Answer keys will be provided for
every problem set. It is each student's responsibility to review and
understand the answer keys and the comments received on problem
sets.
Late Policy: Problem sets must be turned in by 12:05pm on the day they are due. Boxes will be made available at the back of the lecture hall before class, and will be removed after the lecture begins. Do not hand your assignment to your TA personally during lecture. Problem sets turned in after the start of class on the day they are due will automatically be docked; the maximum grade for such a problem set will be 2 (i.e., half credit). Beyond that, NO LATE PROBLEM SETS WILL BE ACCEPTED (except under extreme
circumstances, and only by prior arrangement with your TA).
4. Exams
There will be three exams. The first two will take place during the regular lecture time and are closed book/no notes exams. The final exam will be comprehensive, and it will be an open-notes exam. (That is, you can bring notes in, but textbooks will not be allowed.)
Please note the dates of the exams now, and make your plans accordingly. Any potential conflicts must be brought to the instructor's attention well before the date of the exam. NO MAKE-UPS WILL BE GIVEN FOR MISSED EXAMS.
Exam #1: Monday, February 25 (in class)
Exam #2: Monday, April 7 (in class)
Final Exam: Tuesday, May 13 (10:05AM-12:05PM)
5. Final Paper (10 pages, double-spaced):
Required for graduate students and undergraduate honors credit.
Topics announced April 16. Due by 4PM Tuesday, May 13.
Undergraduate Students
Problem Sets: 25%
Exam #1: 20%
Exam #2: 20%
Exam #3: 35%
Graduate Students and Honors Credit
Problem Sets: 20%
Exam #1: 20%
Exam #2: 20%
Exam #3: 30%
Final Paper: 10%
You are encouraged to discuss and work on problem set assignments with other students in the course. However, you must write up your solutions to the assignments on your own, in your own words. Students are expected to follow the University honor code.