L20 Nature of Language- Section 03 San José State University, Fall 2017 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-10:15am Room Number: ENG 403

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1 L20 Nature of Language- Section 03 San José State University, Fall 2017 Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-10:15am Room Number: ENG 403 Dr. Julia Swan Office Clark Hall 477 Office Phone: Office Hours: Tuesdays (10:30-11:30am) and Wednesdays (1:30-3pm) Course Format and Delivery Our course adopts a hybrid delivery format. Students must have Internet connectivity and regular access to a computer in order to participate in class activities and submit assignments. Course materials such as syllabus, handouts, notes, assignments and so on can be found on Canvas Learning Management System at You are responsible for regularly checking with the messaging system through MySJSU at to learn of any updates. Course Description This course provides an introduction to language as a social institution and practice observing language use in local speech communities. Language is a crucial symbol of social group identity and plays an important role in shaping culture and society. It is both an indicator and creator of social inequality. This course will explore individual beliefs and experiences of language and how these contribute to pattern of language use in local communities and society at large. Concepts of identity and social organizations like age, socioeconomic class, race/ethnicity, and gender will be vital to our discussions as will concepts related to language in use in the social world. Course outcomes include collecting and analyzing data, practicing critical analysis and writing skills in course assignments and extending these skills in partnered independent research projects for the final presentation. Counts as GE D1: Human Behavior. Course Materials There are two required texts for this course: George Yule (2016). The study of language, sixth edition. Cambridge University Press. Laurie Bauer and Peter Trudgill (Eds.). Language myths. Penguin Books. We may read other original articles and access other source materials, which will be available online via Canvas. GE Learning Outcomes (GELO) Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1

2 1. Place contemporary developments in cultural, historica, environmental, and spatial context. 2. Identify the dynamics of ethnic, cultural, gender/sexual, age-based, class, regional, national, transnational, and global identities and the similarities, differences linkages and interactions between them. 3. Evaluate social science information, draw on different points of view, and formulate applications appropriate to contemporary social issues. 4. Recognize the interactions of social institutions, culture, and environment with the behavior of individuals. Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Connect the interaction of social institutions, culture, and the environment with the language behavior and identity of individuals. 2. Recognize language as a creative and systematic human ability. 3. Identify processes of language change. 4. Demonstrate that different dialects of English are rule-governed systems. 5. Use linguistic methods to collect and analyze data from local communities. 6. Formulate original conclusions about contemporary language use and its variation in diverse regional, social, cultural, or ethnic communities. Criteria for Student Assessment (Grading) 5% 3 Sociolinguistic Artifacts 10% Language Experience Paper 10% Neologisms Paper 10% Transcription Paper 10% Discourse Analysis Paper 10% Speech Event Paper 5% Quizzes 10% Language Myths Presentation 10% Midterm Exam 20% Final Exam University s Credit Hour Requirement Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of 45 hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit 2

3 per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in this syllabus. Grading Scale A % B % C % D % A 93-96% B 83-86% C 73-76% D 63-66% A % B % C % D % F <60% Note that in order to count this course toward their GE requirement, students must earn a C or better. Other Grading Policies Late assignments will not be accepted. Assume that assignments should be submitted electronically unless otherwise specified. Check due dates (and times) carefully to ensure that work can be submitted before the deadline. Extra credit is not available. I will not give incompletes except in the event of a serious emergency. A brief explanation of the course requirements is provided below. More details about each assignment will be provided on Canvas. Assume all assignments will be written double-spaced with 12-point font and 1 inch margins. Sociolinguistic Artifacts Each student will contribute 3 sociolinguistic artifacts over the course of the semester. An artifact is a piece of media (song, YouTube video, news article, photo, etc.) or metalinguistic commentary that you feel relates to and/or enhances some concept from class discussion. In posting an artifact you need to contextualize it by explaining why you chose it (i.e. how it relates to class discussion) (GELOs 2, 4; CLO 1, 6). Language Experience Paper Each student will write a 2-3 page paper reflecting on their own linguistic experiences and heritage and their beliefs about language (GELOs 1, 2, 4; CLO 1). Neologisms Paper Each student will write a 2-3 page paper on neologisms discussing words that have recently entered the English language and the processes behind their formation and use (GELOs 1, 2; CLO 2, 3, 4, 5) Transcription Paper 3

4 Each student will write a 2-3 page paper transcribing a selected portion of a television show or movie of their choice using their knowledge of the sounds and sound systems of English (GELOs 2, 4 ; CLO 1-6). Discourse/Text Analysis Paper Each student will write a 2-3 page paper applying their understanding of discourse analysis to analyze two texts designed for different audiences (GELOs 1-4; CLO 1, 2, 4, 5, 6). Speech Event Paper Each student will write a 2-3 page paper analyzing how language use is contextdependent and describing the factors that influence language use CLO 1, 2, 5, 6). Quizzes and Homework Students will complete weekly homework assignments and in-class quizzes (GELOs 1-4; CLOs 1-6). Language Myths Presentation Students will work with a partner to independently research a popular myth about language, beginning with inspiration from one of our course texts and extending this research by using additional resources. Students will present this work to the class at the end of the semester. See more about this project below (GELOs 1-4, CLO 1, 5, 6). Exams Students will take a midterm and a final exam (GELOs 1-4; CLOs 1-6). Participation and Attendance: Per University policy F69-24, Students should attend all meetings of their classes, not only because they are responsible for material discussed therein, but because active participation is frequently essential to insure maximum benefit for all members of the class. Attendance per se shall not be used as a criterion for grading. Nonetheless, participation is vital to our class, both in terms of discussion and students mastery of the materials. Strong participation in class means asking questions, trying to make connections between concepts and readings, and being responsive to your classmates when they do the same. It is unlikely that a student will be able to master the course learning outcomes with prolonged or repeated absences. If you are absent, you are responsible for following up with the instructor, Canvas and a classmate to inquire about missed content and completing any out-of-class assignments. Make-ups for in-class work (like quizzes) will not be given. 4

5 Language Myths Presentation (Final Presentation) The final presentation is an important aspect of this course. The skills for this project should be a work in progress over the course of the semester, not just in the last two weeks of the course. Deadlines are structured to facilitate your incremental progress over the semester. I would be happy to discuss your topic with you further and/or provide additional reading in office hours or in an appointment. Deadlines for the final paper include: October 19 th - With the partner you have selected, submit a brief one-paragraph description of your final paper topic. (You may submit one copy for the group with both names and a clear outline of your roles in the project. Who will research what?) November 9 th - Submit one-page prospectus outlining the topic you will address plus an annotated bibliography of at least 4 academic sources (2 per person) relevant to your topic. November 21 st December 5 th - Present the findings of your Language Myths project to the class. Course Policies Cell Phone Use: Cell phones use is not permitted in class. Your phone should be placed inside your bag or stored out of sight. Notetaking: I prefer that you take notes using a pen/pencil and paper. If you use a laptop or ipad for notetaking, and this becomes a source of distraction for you or your classmates, I will request that you take notes on paper. You will have access to lecture slides, handouts or other materials on Canvas so do not need to take photos of them as they are displayed in class. Taking notes on paper provides an opportunity reinforce your knowledge and understanding of concepts kinetically. This can have a very positive impact on your memory. On Accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodation for this class, it is your responsibility to contact and register with the Accessible Education Center and provide them with documentation of your disability, so that they can determine what accommodations are appropriate for your situation. With your permission they will discuss with me those reasonable and appropriate accommodations. To avoid any delay you should contact the AEC office as early as possible in the semester, and contact me for assistance in developing a plan to address your academic needs in this course. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and that reasonable disability accommodations cannot be provided until I have received an accommodation letter from and discussed your case with the AEC office. You can reach Disability Support Services at (408) or aec-info@sjsu.edu. 5

6 Other University Course Policies: Per University Policy S16-9, university-wide policy information relevant to all courses, such as academic integrity, accommodations, etc. will be available on Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs Syllabus Information web page at Academic Integrity: Your academic integrity is vital to our learning experience. I am required to report all instances of academic misconduct. Cheating and plagiarism are two of the most obvious types of academic misconduct. San José State University defines cheating as the act of obtaining credit, attempting to obtain credit, or assisting others to obtain credit for academic work through the use of any dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means... San José State University defines plagiarism as the act of representing the work of another as one s own without giving appropriate credit, regardless of how that work was obtained, and submitting it to fulfill academic requirements. You are responsible for having read about the various types of academic conduct enumerated under University Policy F15-7 at On Availability: Timely communication and feedback between students and instructors are an important part of our learning community. Students are responsible for checking all notices and postings through Canvas. I will be available by and strive to respond to your s within 24 hours during the school week. I will be more likely to respond to s in the early morning hours and daytime hours than in the evenings, especially if you after 8 or 9pm. Please plan ahead by ing questions regarding homework or papers well in advance of their due dates. Abbreviated Course Outline This outline is subject to change with reasonable notice. Week Date Readings Class Discussion Assignment Due Introduction: What is linguistics? What is language? Yule Ch. Human vs. Animal 1 & 2 Communication 8.31 Yule Ch. Sounds of Language Yule Ch. Sounds of Language Language Experience Paper 6

7 3 9.7 Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch. 10 Sound Patterns of Language Word Formation Morphology Grammar & Syntax Grammar & Syntax Semantics Sociolinguistic Artifact #1 Transcription Paper Neologisms Paper Semantics & Pragmatics Sociolinguistic Artifact #2 Pragmatics + Midterm Review 10.5 Midterm Exam Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch Yule Ch. 18 Discourse Analysis Discourse Analysis Language and the Brain Language and Regional Variation Text Analysis Paper One-paragraph due for Language Myth Yule Ch. 19 Language and Social Variation Yule Ch. 20 Language and Culture Sociolinguistic Artifact # Video: Do You Speak American? 11.2 No Class, Instructor Conference Travel Speech Event Paper Yule Ch First and Second Language Acquisition 11.9 Yule Ch First and Second Language Acquisition Yule Ch. 17 Language History and Change Language History and Change + Prepare for Language Myths Presentation One-page + bibliography due for Language Myths 7

8 Language Myths Presentation No Class- Happy Thanksgiving! Language Myths Language Myths Language Myths 12.7 Review for Final Exam Last Day of Class *FINAL EXAM 7:15-9:30AM* 8