LIT 3330-501 Linguistics Course Syllabus Spring 2006

Instructor: Thomas Lambert

Contact: Thomas.lambert1@utdallas.edu
(972)883-4151
Office Hours: Monday 2:00-3:00, Wednesday 5:30-6:30 or by appointment. (Advance
notice is always appreciated)
Office Location: JO 5.608C, 5th floor Jonsson Bldg.

Note: This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Course Objectives: The course is intended to provide students with a general

introduction to the major fields of linguistics, including: phonology and phonetics,
morphology, syntax, semantics, discourse analysis, stylistics, language acquisition and
dialects. Students will be expected to use this knowledge to analyze real-world language
issues and debates.

Textbooks:
Curzan, Anne and Michael Adams. How English Works: A Linguistic Introduction.
Pearson Education/Longman 2006, ISBN 0-321-12188-0.

Crystal, David. The English Language: A Guided Tour of the Language. Penguin Books
2002, ISBN 0-14-100396-0.

Course Policies and Procedures:

Grades: Final averages will be calculated as follows:

Exam 1 = 20%
Exam 2 = 20%
Exam 3 = 20%
Term Paper = 20%
Homework, quizzes, attendance = 20%
 Grade Average
A+ 100-96
A 95-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-86
B 85-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-76
C 75-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-66
D 65-63
D- 62-60
F 59-0
X Incomplete
CR Credit
NC No Credit

Students are expected to attend class and roll will be taken each class day. Readings listed
on the syllabus should be done before class. Homework and quizzes may be given
without warning. There will be three in-class exams. The exams will not be cumulative,
but will assume a general understanding of previously covered material. Exam questions
will come from material covered in readings, lectures, supplementary handouts and
videos. A term paper of 5 to 7 pages will be handed in toward the end of the course
(April10).

No make-up quizzes will be given and no homework will be accepted late, no

exceptions. If you miss an exam, make-ups will be given only upon furnishing a written
medical excuse. Late term papers will lose10 points for each day they are late.

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any cases of cheating or plagiarism will be
subject to university disciplinary proceedings.

Disability services are provided to students with documented disabilities. Contact the
office of disability services in the Student Union SU 1.106, 972-883-2070.
 LIT 3330-501 Linguistics Course Schedule Spring 2006

Note: Schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Readings

assigned should be done before class.

January 9
Course overview, syllabus presentation, term paper assignment, intro exercises

January 11
Language and Linguistics
Readings: Curzan Ch 1, Crystal, pp1-12

January 16
MLK Holiday – University closed

January 18
Language and Linguistics continued

January 23
Language and Authority
Readings: Curzan Ch 2, Crystal pp 34-51

January 25
Phonology and Phonetics
Readings: Curzan Ch 3, Crystal pp 52-68

January 30
Phonology and Phonetics

February 1
Phonology and Phonetics

February 6
Morphology
Readings: Curzan Ch 4,

February 8
Morphology, Review for Exam

February 13
Exam I

February 15
Syntax
Readings: Curzan Ch 5, Crystal pp19-33
February 20
Syntax
Reading: Curzan, Ch 6

February 22
Syntax

February 27
Semantics
Reading: Curzan, Ch 7

March 1
Semantics

March 7 & 9
Spring Break – No Class

March 13
Discourse Analysis
Reading: Curzan Ch 8

March 15
Discourse analysis

March 20
Stylistics/Review
Reading: Curzan Ch 9

March 22
Exam 2

March 27
Language Acquisition
Reading: Curzan Ch 10

March 29
Language Acquisition

April 3
Language Variation
Readings: Curzan, Ch 11, Crystal pp 87-106

April 5
Language Variation
April 10
******Term Papers Due*****
Dialects
Reading: Curzan, Ch 12

April 12
Dialects

April 17
History of English
Reading: Curzan, Ch 13

April 19
Modern & Future English
Reading: Curzan, Ch 14

April 24
Exam 3