HUSL6388.

501
The Nature of Language
Course Syllabus
Spring 2011

Instructor: Insun Park, Ph.D

email: insun.park@udtallas.edu
phone: 972-883-2820/ 469-744-8398
office: JO 4.622
office hours: by appointment

Course Description:
This course will be an exploration of the nature of language and its relation to the mind
and the world in the framework of modern linguistics, the scientific study of language.
This course will be a broad introduction to the science of linguistics and cover the core
sub-fields of linguistics: phonetics (speech sounds), phonology (sound structure),
morphology (word structure), syntax (sentence structure) and semantics (meaning). In
addition, other topics such as language universals, language variation/change, language
acquisition will also be examined.

Course Goals: By the end of this course, you should be able to:

Gain a broad understanding of human language, what it reveals about the human
mind and cultures.
Learn the fundamentals of linguistic analysis.
Understand the basic concepts and methodologies of linguistics.
Discuss language issues in an informed way.

Materials:

Finegan, Edward. 2008. Language, Its Structure and Use (Fifth

Edition). Boston: Thomson Wadsworth.
Materials linked to course web page

Requirements:

Attendance/class participation: You are expected to attend all sessions. Class

participation includes asking questions, contributing to discussion, and engaging in
group work and in-class exercises. If you are absent, you are responsible for getting
that day’s information from a classmate, including any information about assignments
due at the next class session.
 Homework assignments: Homework will be assigned almost every week throughout
the semester as practice in the ideas introduced and as a gauge of your progress and
understanding. You must submit each homework by the beginning of class on the
date due, in hard copy. Please leave ample space for me to provide comments and/or
corrections.
2 mid-term exams: Exams will test your understanding of the concepts and your
ability to apply the tools and techniques of linguistic analysis.
Final term paper: This paper is an opportunity for you to read more in depth on a
topic of the course that is of special interest to you (minimum 15 pages in
length). During the last week of class, you will be expected to give a presentation of
your topic and basic findings to the rest of the class. (Additional detailed guidelines
and a list of possible topics will be provided.)

Evaluation: Late assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been
made with the instructor. You are responsible for assignments made/completed during
any classes you miss. No early or make-up exams are given, so plan accordingly. Course
requirements will be evaluated as follows:

Grade distribution:
Attendance/class participation 10%
Homework assignments 20%
2 Mid-term exams 40%
Final paper 30%
TOTAL 100%
SPRING TERM: IMPORTANT DATES :
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES : Monday, January 10, 2011.
LAST DAY OF CLASSES : Monday, May 2, 2011.
SPRING BREAK: Monday, March 16 -- Saturday, March 21, 2011.
FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 5 – Wednesday, May 11

Course Content and Reading

Week Course content reading

1. Jan 12 Introduction: Course Overview Finegan Chapter 1.
Basic features of human language.
Linguistic Subfields

2. Jan 19 Lexicon and Morphology Finegan Chapter 2.

3. Jan 26 Phonetics: the Sounds of Languages Finegan Chapter 3

4. Feb 2 Phonology: Sound Systems of Language Finegan Chapter 4

5. Feb 9 Syntax: The Structure and Function of Finegan Chapter 5

Phrases and Sentences

6. Feb 16 Mid-term Exam 1

Final Paper Proposal due

Semantics: The Study of Meaning Finegan Chapter 6

7. Feb 23 Semantics: The Study of Meaning Finegan Chapter 6

8. Mar 2 Language Universals and Language Finegan Chapter 7

Typology
Bibliography due
9. Mar 9 Information Structure and Pragmatics/ Finegan Chapter 8
Speech Acts and Conversation Finegan Chapter 9

SPRING BREAK (March 16 -- March 21, 2011)

10. Mar 23 Language Variation: Registers and Finegan Chapter 10

Styles Finegan Chapter 11
Language Variation: Dialects
11. Mar 30 Historical Linguistics: Language Change Finegan Chapter 13
over Time
12. Apr 6 Mid-term Exam 2

First/ Second Language Acquisition Finegan Chapter 15

13. Apr 13 First/ Second Language Acquisition Finegan Chapter 15

14. Apr 20 Historical Development in English Finegan Chapter 14

15. Apr 27 Research Paper Presentation

May 4 Final Paper Due

Note: This syllabus is subject to change and/or adjustment at the professor’s discretion.