Escandell, M. V., V. Marrero Aguiar, C. Casado Fresnillo, E. Gutiérrez RodrÃguez and P. Ruiz Va. Palacios (2009) El Le
SML5201 Language Myths Autumn 2017 Mondays 11am−1pm Laws G5 Lecturer: Dr Luisa Martí TA: Shivonne Gates office: Arts One 1.24 office: Arts One G35 email:
[email protected] email:
[email protected] office hours: Mon & Tue 3-‐4pm office hours: Tue 11am-‐12pm This module is an introduction to linguistics for students doing a language degree. We will take a number of common misconceptions about the nature of human language and examine them critically. By the end of the module, you should be able to critically evaluate opinions and attitudes about language, and you should have continued developing your capacities for making and following coherent arguments, using and citing evidence appropriately, and appreciating the relationship between data, generalizations and conclusions. There is no textbook for the class, but there will be weekly, obligatory reading assignments, provided via QM+. The assessment for this module is 100% coursework: Assignment 1 1000 words, worth 25% of final mark, due on Sunday 29/10/17 11.55pm Assignment 2 1400 words, worth 35% of final mark, due on Sunday 26/11/17 11:55pm Assignment 3 1600 words, worth 40% of final mark, due on Sunday 7/1/18 11.55pm All assignments must be submitted electronically via QM+ by the specified date and time. Please follow further instructions provided in the QM+ submission area for each assignment. There will be a short exercise every week you will have to complete via QM+ about that week’s topic. You will get feedback from me on it if you submit your answer by the Sunday before the following class. While these exercises are not assessed, you must complete all exercises satisfactorily in order to pass the module. See the Student Handbook for information on marking criteria, attendance (obligatory and subject to School policy) and late assessed work (subject to School policy). Schedule Week Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12
Topic Introduction Language and thought Language and thought Language and thought Dialects and grammar Dialects and grammar READING WEEK — NO CLASS Dialects and grammar Language universals Language universals Language universals Wrap up
Notes Assignment 1 given out in class
Assignment 1 due on 29/10/17, 11.55pm Assignment 2 given out in class
Assignment 2 due on 26/11/17, 11.55pm
Assignment 3 given out in class
Some of the readings for this module Abels, K. (2014) "Syntax", in N. Braber, L. Cummings, D. Hardman & L. Norrish (eds.) An Introduction to Language and Linguistics, Cambridge University Press Bauer, L. and P. Trudgill (1998) Language Myths, Penguin Books Boroditsky, L., Schmidt, L., & Phillips, W. (2003) "Sex, syntax, and semantics", in Gentner & Goldin-‐Meadow (eds.) Language in Mind: Advances in the study of Language and Cognition. Li, P. and L. Gleitman (2002) “Turning the tables: language and spatial reasoning”, Cognition 83: 265-‐294 Pullum, G. (1989) "The great Eskimo vocabulary hoax", Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 7: 275-‐281 Smith, J. (2001) "Negative concord in the Old and New World: evidence from Scotland", Language Variation and Change 13:109-‐134 Winawer, J., N. Witthoft, M. C. Frank, L. Wu, A. R. Wade and L. Boroditsky (2007) “Russian blues reveal effects of language on color discrimination”, PNAS, 104, 19, 7780-‐7785 General and language-‐specific introductions to linguistics: Azevedo, M. (2005) Portuguese: A Linguistic Introduction, Cambridge University Press [in English, about Portuguese] Escandell, M. V., V. Marrero Aguiar, C. Casado Fresnillo, E. Gutiérrez Rodríguez and P. Ruiz Va Palacios (2009) El Lenguaje Humano, Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces [in Spanish] Fagan, S. (2009) German: A Linguistic Introduction, Cambridge University Press [in English, about German] Fromkin, V., Rodman, R. and N. Hyams (2010) An Introduction to Language, Wadsworth Cengage Learning [in English, general introduction, very user-‐friendly] Moeschler, J. and A. Auchlin (2009) Introduction à la linguistique contemporaine, Armand Colin, 3rd edition [in French] Šajkevič, A. (1995/2010) Vvedenie v lingvistiku. Učebnoe posobie, Moscow [in Russian]
