University of Waterloo
Department of English Language and Literature
ENGL 306A, Sec 002: Introduction to Linguistics
Winter 2023
(Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-5:20, St J2 2007)
Dr Ken Hirschkop
Office: Hagey Hall 245
Office Hours: Live: Tuesdays, 3:00-4:00
Virtual: at whereby.com/kenhirschkop, Wednesdays 2-3
Email: khirschk@uwaterloo.ca
Course Aims and Outcomes
This course is an introduction to the field of linguistics. As linguistics is itself an entire discipline (like political science or physics), that is a very tall order. We will at least touch on almost all the major subfields in linguistics, including the history of language, sociolinguistics and linguistic variation, and pragmatics. While our focus will be on the ‘core’ areas of contemporary technical linguistics – phonology, morphology and syntax – we will also examine broader questions about how language works, where it comes from, and the role it has in social life.
My aim is to provide you with knowledge of linguistics that will help you with the rest of your program, and that will enrich your understanding of literature, rhetoric, and communication.
By the end of the course you should:
- Understand the basic shape of linguistics as a discipline and have a grasp of some of the philosophical and methodological issues facing linguists
- Be familiar and comfortable with a broad range of concepts in linguistics, which together cover most of the key subfields within the discipline
- Have a good grasp of basic concepts in phonology, morphology, syntax, and the study of linguistic variation.
- Be able to analyse sentences and words grammatically
- Be prepared for advanced or specialized study in linguistics
- Understand many of the key linguistic features of the English language.
Readings:
There are no formal printed readings for the course; you’ll become acquainted with the material through lectures and occasional on-line material I’ll assign during the semester.
Throughout the term I will provide links to websites that provide information and analysis relevant to the topics on the course. You should look at these whenever you can: they will help master the material on the course.
The Powerpoint presentations used in the lectures will be posted on the course LEARN site after each lecture.
Classes
Because there are few readings, nearly all the material covered will be presented in class. Attendance is therefore essential. The class will be in lecture format, but questions and discussion are encouraged. There will be times when I will want questions about the material from the class and times when we practice certain analytic procedures in class. The material is often quite technical: if you aren’t clear about what a term means or how we analyse something, ask about it in class (if you are confused, chances are someone else is as well).
If you have to self-isolate due to Covid or some other illness, you can use the Powerpoint presentations on LEARN to cover the material.
Assessment:
The course is assessed on the basis of two midterm exams and a final exam, all of which will be delivered remotely (on-line). The first midterm will cover the material we look at in weeks 1-5 (general questions in linguistics, phonetics, phonology and morphology). The second midterm will cover syntax, discourse theory, and speech act theory. The final exam will cover all the material on the course.
First midterm 25%
Second midterm 25%
Final Exam 50%
If you fail to appear for an examination, you will be given a mark of 0 for that exam, unless you provide evidence of a medical condition that made it impossible to sit the exam or of an unforeseeable domestic crisis. Please note that the Final Examination period for Winter 2023 is April 13-28 and that student travel plans are not acceptable grounds for granting an alternative final examination time (this applies also to the midterm exams).
Class Schedule:
Week 1 (January 10, 12) : Introduction
Tuesday: What is language? How do we study it?
Thursday: What is linguistics?
The sounds of language (weeks 2-3)
Week 2: January 17, 19
Tuesday: Phonetics
Thursday: Phonology
Week 3: January 24
Tuesday: A brief history of sound changes in language (and an introduction to historical linguistics)
Words, morphemes, and meanings (weeks 3-5)
Week 3: January 26
Thursday: Morphology - derivational
Week 4: January 31, February 2
Tuesday: Morphology – inflectional
Thursday: Word structures – the classes of words
Week 5: February 7, 9
Tuesday: The meanings of words
Thursday: First Midterm Examination
Syntax, style, and discourse: combining words into sentences (weeks 6-9)
Week 6: February 14, 16
Tuesday: Introduction to Syntax
Thursday: Syntax
Reading week: February 20-24
Week 7: February 28, March 2
Tuesday: Syntax
Thursday: Syntax
Week 8: March 7, 9
Tuesday: Syntax review
Thursday: Language as discourse, language and style
Week 9: March 14, 16
Tuesday: Speech act theory and conversation analysis
Thursday: Second Midterm Examination
Language and society (weeks 10-12)
Week 10: March 21, 23
Tuesday: Linguistic variation: dialects
Thursday: Linguistic variation: sociolinguistics
Week 11: March 28, 30
Tuesday: Linguistic variation: urban vernaculars, registers, code-switching, indexicality
Thursday: Language and society I
Week 12: April 4, 6
Tuesday: Language and society II
Thursday: Review for final examination
Additional information
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Appeals
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It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit alternate assignment.
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Important notes
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Mental Health Support
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On Campus
Due to COVID-19 and campus closures, services are available only online or by phone.
- Counselling Services: counselling.services@uwaterloo.ca / 519-888-4567 ext. 32655
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Off campus, 24/7
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Full details can be found online on the Faculty of Arts website
Download UWaterloo and regional mental health resources (PDF)
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For more information about the purpose of territorial acknowledgements, please see the CAUT Guide to Acknowledging Traditional Territory.
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Cross-listed Course (if applicable)
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