Linguistics 1: Introduction to Linguistics | Fall 2019

9 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Fridays | LAC-T1324

Instructor: Adrienne Lynett, Ph.D. | alynett@lbcc.edu
Virtual Office Hours: Mondays, 10 to 12 a.m. (on course website)

Course Description
This course provides insight into the structure of language, an introduction to methods of linguistic
analysis and an overview of the sub-fields of linguistics studies. This includes surveys of the sounds,
structure, and development of language, the differences and relationships among languages, and the study
of language in connection with its social and cultural function.

Required Readings
1. Textbook: Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. An Introduction to Language
(11th Edition). 2017 (available at bookstore)
2. Supplemental readings (available on course website)

Student Learning Outcomes

To complete this course a student must be able to:
1. Distinguish the nature, definition(s), and functions of language, and to recognize the history,
development, and properties of English.
2. Examine grammar and usage, and to describe how language functions in society to shape our
ideas, beliefs, and thinking.

In order to achieve these objectives, students will:

1. Read and transcribe using a phonemic alphabet.
1. Define phonetic symbols in articulatory terms.
2. Distinguish the morphemes of a given language.
3. Describe words in terms of their morphologic components.
4. Analyze English sentences in terms of their syntactic structure
5. Analyze the concept of language families.
6. Analyze the universal properties of language.
7. Describe the continued evolution of language through various social and cultural influences.
8. Explain the application of linguistic theory in education, including acquisition of a second
language.

Course Requirements
1. Class Participation (15%): Thoughtful, respectful participation is essential to success in this
course. Your participation grade will reflect not only your attendance, but also your contributions
to class and online discussions. (See attendance policy below).
2. Quizzes (15%): A short online quiz will be given for each chapter of the textbook, to be
completed by 8:50 a.m. on Friday, before the lecture corresponding to that topic. Quizzes will be
available on the course website. You will be allowed 3 attempts, and you will earn the highest
grade of those three attempts. Quizzes cannot be submitted past the deadline. The lowest quiz
score will be dropped.
3. Homework Assignments (15%): Homework exercises, derived from the course text, lectures,
and/or supplemental readings, will be assigned after each lecture. These may include short answer
questions, problem sets, and/or mini essay assignments. Homework will be submitted online and
is due by 10 p.m. every Wednesday. Late homework submissions will not be accepted. The
lowest homework score will be dropped.
4. Article Summary (10%): Choose an article from the list on the course website and write a 1- to
2-page essay discussing the article and relating it to a topic we’ve discussed in class. This
summary will be posted on the course website. Following this assignment submission, you will
 be required to respond thoughtfully to at least one of your classmates’ essays.
5. Midterm Exam (15%): The midterm exam will cover the first six chapters of the textbook, class
discussions, and supplemental readings.
6. Research Paper (15%): For this analytical essay of 6-8 pages, you will critically research and
discuss some aspect of linguistic analysis related to the topics covered in class. This paper will be
submitted to the course website (making use of Turnitin.com). Late papers will be subject to a
penalty.
7. Final Exam (15%): This cumulative exam will be held on the last day of class.

Attendance Policy
Attendance and participation are requirements of this class. The instructor will record attendance and
participation for each class session. Being late to class three times (more than five minutes late) is
equivalent to one absence. Each student is responsible for all material covered in class when he or she is
absent. A student may miss one class with no excuse — no questions asked. Two or more unexcused
absences will result in a grade penalty. Students who miss 3 classes during the semester or two
consecutive weeks of class, will be dropped from the class, in accordance with college policy.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined in the Modern Language Association Handbook as “using another person’s ideas or
expressions without acknowledging that person’s work” (sec. 2.1). Writers who plagiarize are passing off
the work of others as their own. The violation may be unintentional; however, unintentional plagiarism is
still plagiarism. Writers must always acknowledge others’ arguments, ideas, and notions, whether used in
quotation or in paraphrase. Consequences for plagiarism include failure on the written work in question
and possible failure of the course and referral to the Dean of Student Affairs for further disciplinary
action.