This page is updated after each day's class.
Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.
See also the schedule of topics for a general overview.
Key: S remote synchronous
| A remote asynchronous
Before the first day
- Meet your instructor, Jen Smith: video (on Sakai) | transcript
- Optional: Introduce yourself to the class
- Go to the Sakai Forum called "Introduce yourself!"
- Click on "Start a new conversation"
- Put your name (as you would like to be called) in the "Title" bar, with your pronouns if you would like
- You're welcome to respond to other people's posts to say hello
- Do you have your textbook?
- The first two chapters are posted as e-reserves (via Sakai) in case your copy hasn't arrived yet
[01] M Aug 10 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai]
- Covered today: Introduction to the course; What is linguistics?
- Outline | Zoom video
- Handout - Course information and policies [updated W Sept 16]
- To read for W Aug 12: Contemporary Linguistics (CL) Ch 1: focus mainly on sections 2, 3
- Ch 1 is available through Course Reserves (Sakai) if your textbook hasn't arrived yet
[02] W Aug 12 | A
- Covered today: Mental grammar; grammaticality judgments; language varieties
- Learning activities
- Learning assignments 08.12a, 08.12b (Sakai T&Q) are due Th Aug 13, 12:00 noon
- Homework assignment: HW #1 | Mental grammar
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Aug 17, 12:00 noon as a .doc(x) or .pdf file
- To read for M Aug 12: CL Ch 2, sec 1 and sec 4
- Ch 2 is available through Course Reserves (Sakai) if your textbook hasn't arrived yet
[03] M Aug 17 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai]
- Covered today: Introduction to phonetics - Terms and symbols; the vocal tract
- To read for W Aug 19: CL Ch 2:
- Read sec 2 (focus on 2.3), 3, 5, and 6 (review sec 4 as needed)
- Refer to example words in Tables 2.16 and 2.17 in sec 7
- Ch 2 is available through Course Reserves (Sakai) if your textbook hasn't arrived yet
- FYI: Interested in more linguistics?
Underling, the undergraduate linguistics club, welcomes new members!
- The club officers have posted an interest form for Fall 2020 (Google Doc) - tell them your linguistic interests and your potential meeting availability
- Contact the officers if you have questions!
[04] W Aug 19 | A
- Covered today: IPA symbols and properties for consonants and vowels
- Learning activities
- Learning assignment 08.19
(Sakai T&Q)
is due
Th Aug 20, 12:00 noonW Aug 26, 12:00 noon (special for this week)
- Homework assignment: No homework assignment for this week (HW #2 will be after the "pause")
- To read for M Aug 31: CL Ch 3, sec 1
- FYI: The final exam schedule has been announced; our exam period is Sat Nov 21 at 12:00 noon
- Specific information about access and timing for our final exam (on Sakai) will be provided in November
M Aug 24 | no class
- Classes "paused" for campus transition to remote learning — no class today
[05] W Aug 26 | A
- Covered today: Optional videos for more about linguistics
- See video links on the Learning activities page
- No learning assignment this week
- To read for M Aug 31: CL Ch 3, sec 1
- Homework assignment: No homework assignment this week
- FYI: No recitation on F Aug 28
- Instead, try these LING 101 Quizlet sets to practice IPA symbols and sound properties!
- Recitation change requests: See the
Sakai announcement
for what to do if you need (or prefer)
to change your recitation format (synchronous vs. asynchronous), after the pivot to all-remote classes
- Submit any change requests by M Aug 31 at 5pm
[06] M Aug 31 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai]
- Covered today: Introduction to phonology - Contrast; phonemes and allophones
- To read for W Sept 2: CL Ch 3, Appendix (pp 107-109)
- Note: Point 3 demonstrates phonological rules using features (with +/- values); in our class we will do this with sound properties such as nasal or high
- Recitation change requests: See the
Sakai announcement
for what to do if you need (or prefer)
to change your recitation format (synchronous vs. asynchronous), after the pivot to all-remote classes
- Submit any change requests by M Aug 31 at 5pm (but ASAP is most helpful!)
[07] W Sept 2 | A
- Covered today: Natural classes and phonological rules
- Learning activities
- Learning assignment 09.02 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Sept 3, 12:00 noon
- Homework assignment: HW #2 | Phonology
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by W Sept 9, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- If you need help typing phonetic symbols, there is information here
- Some additional resources for solving phonology problems
- First and foremost, check the feedback on your answers to Learning Assignment 09.02!
- A discussion forum for questions and an optional extra phonology video have been added to the Learning Activities for W Sept 2
- To read for W Sept 9: CL Ch 4, sec 1
M Sept 7 | no class
- Holiday
[08] W Sept 9 | A
- Covered today: Introduction to morphology - Morphemes and morphological analysis
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 09.09 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 09.09 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Sept 10, 12:00 noon
- Homework assignment: HW #3 | Morphology
- Scan of CL Ch 4 ex 5, ex 1
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Sept 14, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- To read for M Sept 14:
- CL Ch 5, sec 1.1
- Review CL Ch 4, sec 1.1
[09] M Sept 14 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai]
- Covered today: Word categories and word structure
- To read for W Sept 16:
- CL Ch 4, sec 2 (except sec 2.2)
- CL Ch 4, sec 3
- CL Ch 4, sec 4
[10] W Sept 16 | A
- Covered today: Derivation, inflection, and compounding
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 09.16 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 09.16 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Sept 17, 12:00 noon
- Homework assignment: HW #4 | Morphology 2
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Sept 21, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- FYI: Revised course policy on late assignments
- Course information and policies document has been updated to match
- To read for M Sept 21:
- CL Ch 5, sec 1 through sec 1.3 (sec 1.1 is review)
- CL Ch 5, Appendix sections on Merge (pp 207-209)
[11] M Sept 21 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Introduction to syntax; Words and phrases
- Outline | Zoom video
- Answers to the practice X' trees in the lecture outline slides
- To read for W Sept 23:
- CL Ch 5, sec 1.4
- CL Ch 5, sec 2
- FYI: An anonymous
mid-semester survey is available (Google Docs)
- Let us know how the course is going for you so far
- Please respond to the survey by F Sept 25 at noon EDT
[12] W Sept 23 | A
- Covered today: Constituents, complement options, and complement clauses
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 09.23 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 09.23 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Sept 24, 12:00 noon
- Homework assignment: HW #5 | Syntax 1
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Sept 28, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- To read for M Sept 28:
- CL Ch 5, sec 5.1 (modifiers)
- CL Ch 6, sec 3.2 (ambiguity)
- Recommended (but optional) video: Structural ambiguity, by Ling Vids (4:28)
- FYI: An anonymous
mid-semester survey is available (Google Docs)
- Let us know how the course is going for you so far
- Please respond to the survey by F Sept 25 at noon EDT
[13] M Sept 28 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Structural ambiguity; modifiers
- Outline | Zoom video
- Answers to the practice X' trees in the lecture outline slides
- To read for W Sept 30:
- CL Ch 5, sec 3, "Move"
- CL Ch 5, Appendix section on "Using Move"
[14] W Sept 30 | A
- Covered today: Syntactic rules: Movement and do-insertion
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 09.30 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 09.30 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Oct 1, 11:55 pm
- FYI: Upcoming classes and preparation for the midterm exam
- Recitation this week will be as usual, with a focus on the new material from the week
- M Oct 5 synchronous class will be a general review and discussion session for the midterm exam
- Read carefully through the Midterm exam information and review guide
- Do you have some specific topics or examples you would like to see covered in Monday's class? Post your review requests in the Sakai Forum "Midterm exam review topics", ideally by 11:00 am on M Oct 5 so we have time to prepare
- Prepare: Midterm exam (asynchronous) available Tu Oct 6 – Th Oct 8 on Sakai in T&Q
- Midterm exam information and review guide
- Syntax examples for extra practice (since there is no new HW this week)
[15] M Oct 5 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Review for midterm exam
- Outline |
Zoom video
- Zoom whiteboard image from discussion of the "Which cousin did George get a letter from"? example
- Archive of student questions submitted on Padlet during class (answered in the Zoom video) — oldest questions are at the bottom
- Outline |
Zoom video
- To read for M Oct 12:
- CL Ch 6, sec 1; focus on sec 1.2 and on "Extension and intension" in sec 1.3
[16] W Oct 7 | A
- Midterm exam
- In Sakai Tests & Quizzes
- Open Tu Oct 6 12:00 noon – Th Oct 8 11:55pm (EDT)
- Once you begin, you have 3 hours to complete the exam
- Schedule of instructor availability by email
(for asking questions during exam)
- You are welcome to email any instructor, not just your recitation TA
- You might want to plan when to take the exam based on when you can get questions answered
- Midterm information and review guide
- To read for M Oct 12:
- CL Ch 6, sec 1; focus on sec 1.2 and on "Extension and intension" in sec 1.3
- FYI: No recitation on F; World Mental Health Day
[17] M Oct 12 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Semantics — Word and sentence meaning
- To read for W Oct 14:
- CL Ch 6, sec 4; focus on 4.1 "Presupposition" and 4.4
[18] W Oct 14 | A
- Covered today: Sentence meaning relations; pragmatics
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 10.14 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 10.14 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Oct 15, 11:55pm
- Homework assignment: HW #6 | Semantics and pragmatics
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Oct 19, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- To read for M Oct 19:
- Review CL Ch 1, sec 3 (on the universality of mental grammar)
- CL Ch 13, chapter intro and sec 1-2
[19] M Oct 19 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Sociolinguistics — Language variation; regional varieties
- To read for W Oct 21:
- CL Ch 13, sec 6
[20] W Oct 21 | A
- Covered today: Social factors in language variation
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 10.21 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 10.21 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Oct 22, 11:55pm
- Homework assignment: HW #7 | Sociolinguistics
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Oct 26, 12:00 noon as .pdf file
- To read for M Oct 26:
- CL Ch 9, sec 1, "The study of language acquisition"
- CL Ch 9, sec 2, "Phonological development"
[21] M Oct 26 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall (archive)]
- Covered today: Child language acquisition; Acquisition of phonology
- To read for W Oct 28:
- CL Ch 9, sec 4, 5, 6
[22] W Oct 28 | A
- Covered today: Acquisition of morphology and syntax
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 10.28 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 10.28 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Oct 29, 11:55pm
- Homework assignment: HW #8 | L1 acquisition
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Nov 2, 12:00 noon EST as .pdf file
- NOTE TIME CHANGE TO EASTERN STANDARD TIME (GMT -05:00)
- To read for M Nov 2:
- CL Ch 9, sec 6.4-6.5 (review)
- CL Ch 10, sec 1 and 2
[23] M Nov 2 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall]
- Covered today: UG in acquisition; Second-language axquisition
- To read for W Nov 4:
- CL Ch 8, sec 1
- CL Ch 8, sec 7 (especially 7.1, 7.2)
[24] W Nov 4 | A
- Covered today: Genetically related languages; Comparative reconstruction
- Learning activities
- Use Sakai Discussion Forum 11.04 if you would like to ask — and answer — questions about this material
- Learning assignment 11.04 (Sakai T&Q) is due Th Nov 5, 11:55pm
- Homework assignment: HW #9 | L2 acquisition and historical linguistics
- Upload your assignment responses to Sakai Assignments by M Nov 9, 12:00 noon EST as .pdf file
- To read for M Nov 9:
- CL Ch 8, sec 2.4 on phonological change
- CL Ch 8, sec 3.1-3.2, 3.4 on morphological change
- CL Ch 8, sec 4.2 on syntactic change
[25] M Nov 9 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall]
- Covered today: Language change and mental grammar
- No new reading: Wednesday's learning activities will be wrap-up and review
[26] W Nov 11 | A
- Covered today: What to remember about language; linguistics research today
- Learning activities
- Learning assignment: Post to Sakai Discussion Forum (11.11 Final thoughts), due Th Nov 5, 11:55pm
- Optional practice problems: Extra review practice for final exam
- Try these as a way to review syntax and phonology
- You will have a chance to ask questions and check your answers in recitation on Friday
- Upcoming: Class on Monday will be review for the final exam
- Review guide for final exam
- Any requests for topics or examples to focus on in Monday's class? Post your requests in the Sakai Forum "Final exam review topics" by 11am Monday
[27] M Nov 16 | S [Join class: Zoom link via Sakai] [Warm-up wall]
- Covered today: Review for final exam
- Outline | Zoom video
- Padlet for asking questions during review discussion
- Prepare: Final exam (asynchronous) available Th Nov 19 – Sa Nov 21 on Sakai in T&Q
- FYI: Information about Spring 2021 LING courses and the LING major/minor
- A list of all LING courses for Sp 2021
- Posters/more information for selected courses offered in Sp 2021
- The undergraduate program in LING — major and minor info
- In Sakai Tests & Quizzes
- Open Th Nov 19 3:00pm – Sa Nov 21 3:00pm (EST)
- Once you begin, you have 3 hours to complete the exam
- Schedule of instructor availability by email
(for asking questions during exam)
- You are welcome to email any instructor, not just your recitation TA
- You might want to plan when to take the exam based on when you can get questions answered
- Information and review guide for final exam