Syllabus

Linguistics 299 Introduction to Language:

Language and the Mind

Winter 2005, MWF 10:15 - 11:20, 4 credits

Professor: Dr. Lynn Santelmann

Office: 239 East Hall (across the street from Shattuck Hall)

Phone: 725-4140, E-mail: santelmannl@pdx.edu (note: e-mail = last name + FIRST initial)

Office hours: M 2:15-3:15 PM and Th 1-2 PM, or by appointment

Prerequisites: None

Required texts: 

Available at PSU Bookstore 

Optional Text:

Course and lecture notes

1. The Language Instinct, by Steven Pinker

2. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, edited by David Crystal

Available via WebCT.

Course description

This course is a general introduction to the nature and study of human language. This course will explore issues in what it means to learn, speak and understand language. Topics to be studied will include: how human language systems differ from animal communication, the basic structure of language, language and cognition, and how language is learned by children and adults.

            This course is designed for students who are not intending further study in linguistics. This means that it will not fulfill the prerequisites for students wishing to continue study in linguistics or considering applying to the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) certificate or Master's program. Linguistics 390 is the course that fulfills the prerequisites for these programs. If you are a Foreign Language major, check with your advisor as to whether they will accept this course for your requirements.

Format of Course

This course will be introduce and explore issue through lectures, videos and demonstrations, small group exercises and discussions. Out of class, students will have the opportunity for on-line exercises & quizzes, as well as a chance to follow up on all of the activities with written essays. Please note: The lectures are often designed to parallel, NOT duplicate information covered in the texts. That means that regular attendance is important for your understanding of the material. You will be expected to use examples from class in your written work.

Course objectives:

•          To develop understanding of the basic nature of human language and how human language differs from other communication systems

•          To understand issues and areas that linguists and psycholinguists study - language structure, language use, language acquisition, language and the brain

•          To become more aware of the language around you and how you use language

•          To examine your attitudes toward and beliefs about language.

•          To become both the diversity and the fundamental similarities among languages.

•          To learn to argue a position or an opinion and support your position using data.

Student Learning Objectives

At the end of Ling 290, students will be able to:

Unit 1: What is human language ?

•          Define some of the basic features of language design.

•          Describe how human language is different from animal communication systems.

•          Compare and contrast animal communication systems to human language.

•          Identify, illustrate, and discuss the difference between descriptive and prescriptive grammatical rules.

•          Identify and discuss common myths about language.

•          Explain/discuss the differences between language and communication

Unit 2: How humans understand and produce language

•          Compare and illustrate the relationship between language and thought.

•          Define competence and performance and illustrate each

•          Describe and illustrate how humans distinguish and organize: sounds, words, sentences and meaning.

•          Describe and illustrate how humans produce: sounds, words, sentences and meaning.

Unit 3: How languages are learned and lost

•          List and illustrate the major stages of language acquisition in children.

•          Define "critical period" and discuss whether a critical period exists for language learning.

•          List and discuss the major issues in second (adult) language learning.

•          Compare and contrast chimpanzee's and human's acquisition of human language systems.

•          Describe reasons for language loss, in communities and individuals

Unit 4: The Biology of Language

•          List the biological adaptations that humans have for understanding and producing language.

•          Identify the basic areas of the brain used for language.

•          List and illustrate language disorders that are related to brain injury/brain function

•          Discuss evidence for and against language being innate and uniquely human.

•          Compare and contrast human's and other species' adaptations for language.

Assignments

You will be evaluated based on your performance on several different assignments:

•          discussion & discussion follow-up activities

•          on-line quizzes

•          written essays

Please note that assignments are expected to be completed using IN TEXT citations for ideas and information that are not your own (i.e. APA style). Please note: APA style is different from MLA style. For information on how to use APA style, consult the Writing Center's information: http://www.writingcenter.pdx.edu/resources/apa-samples.html

Discussions & In-Class exercises will be both large & small group. These will require you synthesize information from class lectures, completed readings and the videos. At the end of discussions, students will be asked to write a brief report/reflection giving the highlights of the discussion. For in-class exercises, students may be asked to complete portions of the assignment before the next class period.

Discussion & etiquette This course is intended to get you to think about issues of language. Because of that, it is imperative that you participate in discussions, and that you allow your classmates the opportunity to discuss and explore their ideas. Please follow these guidelines:

Please respect others' opinions and their time:

            •          No personal comments

            •          No snide comments

            •          Acknowledge other people's comments

            •          Call each other by name

            •          Allow other people time to contribute

Participate fully:

            •          Prepare (do the readings, come to class) before you participate

            •          Keep your comments on subject and relevant

            •          Support your opinions with FACTS and analysis. Opinions alone are not enough.

            •          Don't be afraid. Sometimes the most profound discussions are based around very simple comments.

            •          Ask questions if you don't understand.

On-line quizzes will be brief, open-book quizzes to make sure that you understand the basic terminology and concepts that we need for discussions, projects and essays. Quizzes will be done outside of class time; you will have a weekend to complete them. I will drop your lowest quiz score. The purpose of these quizzes is to make sure you've completed the readings and understand the basic terminology and concepts, so that we can discuss and work with the material in class.

Essays will be asked to complete several essays during the quarter designed to allow you to synthesize information from class, videos, readings, and discussion, as well as to provide you with an opportunity add your own insights. More detailed instructions will be given in class and on-line. We will briefly discuss each essay in class before the assignment is due.

Course Grading (You must complete at least 80% of the assignments to pass this course.)

            On-line quizzes                                                           15%

            Participation                                                               15%

            Discussion follow up reflections                                15%

            Essays                                                                         55%

Grading Criteria

Participation During the quarter, you will be regularly asked to contribute to the group as a whole. In addition, you will be asked to participate in small group problem-solving or discussions. These activities are important for your learning of syntax, so participation and attendance are critical. In addition, these activities will require you to come to class prepared.

Participation will be graded on:

            •          Regular attendance

            •          How well prepared you are for the class

            •          Appropriate contributions to both small and large group discussion.

            •          Ability to respond appropriately to classmates' questions, comments and discussion.

Regular attendance and contribution to only small groups will result in a "C". Regular attendance and contribution to both large and small groups will result in a "B". Superior participation in both large and small groups will warrant an "A". Irregular attendance and/or failure to participate in discussions will result in a "D" or lower.

Discussions will be graded based on follow-up reports. These will be short (5-15) minute assignments that will ask you to reflect on what your group discussed, synthesize a few points for discussion, posit questions related to the discussion or explore the topic in more detail. The format for these will vary, and instructions will be given in class. These will be graded on a √+, √, √- format. These will be due either the date of the in-class discussion or the day after the discussion. Failure to turn in these assignments by the next class period will result in a zero for that assignment. NO LATE DISCUSSION NOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Quizzes will be graded on a percent scale. An A or A- will fall between 91-100% of the points, a B+, B, or B- will fall between 90-81% of the points, a C, C+, or C- will fall between 80% and 71%.

Essays will be graded on an A-F scale. "A" essays will contain (i) clear, concise summaries of background information, (ii) a well developed thesis, (iii) well documented argumentation in support of the thesis and (iv) a clear conclusion. "B" essays will contain 3 of these 4 parts; "C" essays 2 of the 4, "D" essays only one of these.

Policy on Late Assignments

If you are seriously ill or have a family emergency, you must notify me as soon as you know there might be a problem with meeting a deadline. My voice mail and e-mail both work 24 hours a day, so you can call or send a message at any time. If you miss a deadline due to an emergency, I will need a written confirmation (on letterhead) of what the problem was.

The on-line quizzes will only be available for a short period of time (about 3 days). You must take the on-line quiz during this time. No make-ups will be possible, except in cases of emergency as described above.

Discussions will take place in-class on the days assigned. Reflections are due the class period after the assigned discussion. No make-up of the in-class discussions are possible. NO LATE DISCUSSION NOTES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Late essays will be penalized a letter grade per day (i.e. B to B-). Essays more than 4 days late will not be accepted. NOTE: WEEKENDS COUNT AS 2 DAYS. Thus, if an essay is due on Friday and you turn it in on Monday, that essay is 2 days late!

Incompletes are RARELY given, and only under extreme circumstances (properly documented).

Students with special needs: Please see me if you have a disability that may require some modification of the seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Also, call Disabled Students Services at 725-4150 or TDD 725- 6504. I will work with you to arrange needed supports.

Withdrawing from Class: January 30^th is the last day to withdraw without a "W". February 4^th is the last day to withdraw without instructor approval. February 25^th is the last day to withdraw with permission. I understand that students occasionally need to withdraw from a course. If you need to withdraw and you need my signature, please don't hesitate to come see me. You won't have to explain why. If you attend class, even once, and stop coming to class without withdrawing, you will receive a grade of F.

Contacting me outside of office hours: You can send e-mail, call my voice mail or leave a note in my box in East Hall 221. Please leave your number and the best time to call, and I will get back to you. You can call my voice mail or send an e-mail message at any time (24 hours a day!)

Final Papers Due: Wednesday, March 17 at 12:00 Noon in my box in 122 East Hall.

There is no in-class final for this course.

Schedule of Assignments (Subject to Change)

Quiz Dates:

Unit 1: Jan 14-17

Unit 2: Feb 4-7

Unit 3: Feb 23-25

Unit 4: Mar 11-17

Essay Due Dates:

Unit 1 & 2: Feb 11

Unit 3: Feb 28

Unit 4/Summary: Mar 17 at Noon