LIN360H5

Historical Linguistics
Fall Session 2017 - Department of Language Studies
___________

Instructor: Michelle Troberg

Weekly meeting time: Thursdays 12:00-15:00 in IB220
Office hours: Wednesdays 3-5pm
E-mail: michelle.troberg@utoronto.ca
__________

Course Description and Goals

Course Goals: The aim of this course is to introduce students to the field of diachronic
linguistics. Students will learn about the history of the field, its relationship to general linguistics,
and its major achievements. Students will also gain practical experience solving problems of
change and language relatedness in typologically diverse languages and reading contemporary
literature in the field in order to learn how to do historical linguistics.

Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this course should be able to:
identify and analyse the following types of change (and their subtypes): phonetic,
phonological, lexical, semantic, morphological, and syntactic, and they should be able to
identify instances of borrowing.
explain how various types of changes arise.
apply the comparative method to problems of linguistic reconstruction.
analyse and interpret data sets.
in scholarly work:
identify methodological choices
critically analyse the major arguments
develop a theoretically informed answer to the following questions:
What is language?
How do languages change?
research a topic concerning diachronic change by writing and talking about it:
through a literature review
through a poster presentation

Course Set-up
12-2pm: Seminar
Discussion of weekly topic; demonstration of methods of analysis; applications
2-3pm: Workshop
Group work on research topic
Prerequisite: LIN229
Recommended Preparation: At least one of LIN231, LIN232, LIN247, LIN256

Textbook: Textbook (required):

Campbell, Lyle. 2013. Historical Linguistics: An Introduction. 3rd edition. Cambridge, Mass.:
MIT Press.

Academic Conduct:
We have the expectation that students will treat each other and all faculty, staff, and TAs with
respect and honesty. Students can expect the same from us.
UTM students are subject to policies regarding academic honesty as set out by the Code of
Behaviour on Academic Matters. Please read and become familiar with policies regarding
academic honesty set out in this code:
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm

Academic Offence
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to
ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each students
individual academic achievement. As a result, the University treats cases of cheating and
plagiarism very seriously.
Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
Using someone elses ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the
instructor.
Making up sources or facts.
Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment.
On tests and exams:
Using or possessing unauthorized aids.
Looking at someone elses answers during an exam or test.
Misrepresenting your identity.
In academic work:
Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not
limited to) doctors notes.
All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in
the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what
constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are
expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from
other institutional resources:
http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/osai/students/students

Accommodation
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance
with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process
that acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that

2
both meets the needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the
University's courses and programs. For more information on services and resources available to
instructors and students, please contact the front desk staff of AccessAbility Services (2037
Davis Building) by phone at 905-569-4699, via email at access.utm@utoronto.ca or drop by the
main office. You can also find a lot more information on their website:
http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/accessability/future-uoft-students/about-centre

Equity
The University of Toronto is committed to equity and respect for diversity. All members of the
learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. As a
course instructor, I will neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or
self-esteem of any individual in this course and wish to be alerted to any attempt to create an
intimidating or hostile environment. It is our collective responsibility to create a space that is
inclusive and welcomes discussion. Discrimination, harassment and hate speech will not be
tolerated. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may contact the UTM Equity
and Diversity officer at edo.utm@utoronto.ca or the University of Toronto Mississauga Students
Union Vice President Equity at vpequity@utmsu.ca

Academic Rights
You, as a student at UTM, have the right to:
- Receive a syllabus by the first day of class.
- Rely upon a syllabus once a course is started. An instructor may only change marks
assignments by following the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy
provision 1.3.
- Refuse to use turnitin.com (you must be offered an alternative form of submission).
- Have access to your instructor for consultation during a course or follow up with the
department chair if the instructor is unavailable.
- Ask the person who marked your term work for a re-evaluation if you feel it was not
fairly graded. You have up to one month from the date of return of the item to inquire
about the mark. If you are not satisfied with a re-evaluation, you may appeal to the
instructor in charge of the course if the instructor did not mark the work. If your work is
remarked, you must accept the resulting mark. You may only appeal a mark beyond the
instructor if the term work was worth at least 20% of the course mark.
- Receive at least one significant mark (15% for H courses, 25% for Y courses) before the
last day you can drop a course for H courses, and the last day of classes in the first week
of January for Y courses taught in the Fall/Winter terms.
- Submit handwritten essays so long as they are neatly written.
- Have no assignment worth 100% of your final grade.
- Not have a term test worth 25% or more in the last two weeks of class.
- Retain intellectual property rights to your research.
- Receive all your assignments once graded.
- View your final exams. To see a final exam, you must submit an online Exam
Reproduction Request within 6 months of the exam. There is a small non-refundable fee.
- Privacy of your final grades.
- Arrange for representation from Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a representative from
the UTM Students Union (UTMSU), and/or other forms of support if you are charged
with an academic offence.

3
How this course works:

Blackboard: You will be able to access all course content through your LIN360H5 lecture shell
within Blackboard. You will find information about what we will cover each week, what the
readings are, when the deadlines are, links to video-clips Id like you to watch and to the
preparatory exercises.

Thursday class: A large part of your success in the course depends on your engagement in our
Thursday class, which is run much like a seminar. I expect that you will be familiar with the
topic for the seminar before coming to class. This is achieved by completing the assigned reading
and the online preparatory exercise. During our seminar, we will discuss and apply the concepts
introduced in the reading as a class and in small groups. Most classes will involve a small
practical assignment that asks you to apply concepts covered that day. The third hour of the class
will usually be reserved for group work on your research project. Please bring your laptop and
textbook to class each week.

Evaluation:
Preparatory exercises (9) 15%
Homework (2) 20%
Term Tests (2) 30%
Research Project: lit review draft1 5%
Research Project: lit review draft2 10%
Research Project: poster 10%
Participation 10%
------
100%

Preparatory Exercises: These online exercises are designed to be low-stakes learning tools
(worth about 1.5% each) and are meant to encourage you to arrive to class prepared. Success
involves completing the assigned reading for the week and completing the questions (on-line).

Homework: There will be two homework assignments (one each term) that ask you to apply and
extend your understanding of the concepts covered to that point.

Participation: Your participation mark (about 1% per week) reflects your positive contribution
to weekly class discussions and completion of in-class exercises.

Term Tests: These tests will be delivered in the seventh and twelfth week of class. They are
cumulative and will be representative of all material discussed and reviewed in the course to that
point. They will last 1.5 hours and will take place in class.

Literature Review: This is an opportunity for you to research a topic of your choice on
language change. It will reflect your ability to identify and synthesize the most important
scholarly research on the topic. It also gives you the opportunity to form an opinion about it. This
paper will be written in pairs. This builds a skill that you will be able to use in any academic or
professional discipline. Your literature review will be done in 2 stages to ensure that your final
draft is your best work.

4
Poster Presentation: Posters synthesize and summarize information in a visually engaging way
and are used in most academic and professional disciplines. This assignment gives you the
opportunity to effectively summarize the conclusions you draw from your literature review and
to briefly elaborate on them to your audience.

Deadlines: Deadlines for the assignments and research project are firm, and the dates set for the
term tests are not likely to change. If any changes arise, they will be announced by the instructor
in class and on Blackboard.
The penalty for a late assignment is 10% per day, up to 6 days, at which point we will no longer
accept it. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments submitted later in class or
that day will be subject to this penalty. If you know you will be absent when an assignment is
due, please submit it in advance of the class.
If you miss a preparatory exercise, you will not be able to make it up.
If you miss an assignment deadline or a midterm test for reasons genuinely beyond your control,
you may ask for special consideration. In order to ask for special consideration, you must 1)
contact your instructor via email immediately upon missing the deadline: within 48 hours, and
2) provide documentation indicating that the assessment was missed for reasons genuinely
beyond your control (e.g. UofT Medical Certificate, death certificate, etc.).

5
2017 FALL SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO MINOR CHANGES)

September 7 Seminar 1: What is Historical Linguistics?

Preparation:
Purchase a copy of the textbook Historical Linguistics (Campbell)
Read the Introductory chapter
Complete the preparatory exercise
Seminar
Introduction to historical lingusitics
Our course as a community of inquiry
Discussion of course organization (Bb site) and my expectations
Workshop
Establish groups; discuss possible topics

September 14 Seminar 2: Sound Change (Ch.2)

Preparation:
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar:
Discussion and application of selected concepts

September 21 Seminar 3: Borrowing (Ch.3)

Preparation
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Workshop
Establish your topic; identify sources/debate

September 28 Seminar 4: Analogical Change (Ch.4)

Preparation
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Homework#1 assigned
Workshop
Each partner to bring hard copies of two important articles

6
October 5 Seminar 5: Semantic Change and Lexical Change (Ch.9)
Preparation:
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar:
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Homework #1 due
Workshop
Completion of at least two summaries

October October 9: Thanksgiving

9-15 October 10-13: Fall Reading Week (no classes)
Work on Draft 1 of Literature Review

October 19 Seminar 6: Syntactic Change (Ch.10)

Preparation:
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar:
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Homework #1 returned
Literature Review: Draft 1 due

October 26 First hour:

Lit review (draft 1) handed back
Review of syntactic change

Term Test #1

November 2 Seminar 7: Comparative Method (Ch. 5)

Preparation
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar
Discussion and application of method
Problems associated with the method
Homework #2 assigned
Workshop
Work on lit review (draft 2)

7
November 9 Seminar 8: Linguistic Classification (Ch.6)
Preparation:
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar:
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Term Test #1 returned
Homework #2 due
Workshop
Create a poster

November 16 Seminar 9: Internal Reconstruction (Ch.7)

Preparation:
Reading
Preparatory exercise
Seminar:
Discussion and application of selected concepts
Homework#2 returned
Workshop
Finalizing poster and lit review (draft 2)

November 23 Poster Presentation

Literature Review: Draft 2 due

November 30 Course wrap-up

Term Test #2