California Polytechnic State University ~ English Department ~ Dr. J. Rubba, Instructor
English 503: Graduate Introduction to Linguistics ~ Winter 2008

SYLLABUS & ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments move back in time down the table; the most recent assignment will always be on top.
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Last updated Thurs. 3/6/08

Thurs., 3/6:

Read Finegan Chapter 11, Language Variation

Written homework:

1) Finegan p. 308, 9-9.
2) Transcription: Difficult Symbols Practice (an online exercise). Key was handed out in class. This is a long exercise (60 items), so I recommend you start it early and break it up over two or three sessions. Note that the symbol guides at the top of the exercise are not the symbol system we are using in class. Use true IPA, as you have for the other exercises so far.

 

Thurs., 2/28:

Read Finegan Chapter 9, Speech Acts and Conversation

Written homework:

1) Finegan p. 527, 15-8. No key needed.
2) Weekly Transcription Practice #6

Thurs., 2/21/08:

Read Finegan Chapter 15, "Language Acquisition."

Written homework:

1) Weekly Transcription Practice #5 (yes, we are skipping #4).
2) The semantic roles  exercise handed out in class.
3) Finegan exercises from Ch. 6: Practice Exercise A, 6-1, 6-4.

Thurs., 2/14/08:

Read Finegan Chapter 6, Semantics.

Written homework:

1) Weekly Transcription Practice #3.
2) Finegan p. 165 Ex. 5-1 a. and b.
3) Finegan p. 165 Ex. 5-2, BUT: give THREE illustrations for each VP expansion.
4) Finegan p. 165 Ex. 5-3 a. and b. ONLY.
There are no keys for the syntax exercises. I will correct them.

Syntax exercises are due Tuesday; Transcription Practice is due Thursday.

Mon., 2/4/08: Here is a helpful handout on syntax: http://cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba/syn/Syntax_sentences.html

Thurs. 1/24/08:

Read Finegan Ch. 4. Please make a note of questions you would like to ask in advance of class.

Written homework:
1. These Morphology Exercises. Note: in addition to the instructions given, draw word trees for "unfortunate", "previewing", "unmasks", and "reactionaries" (note that "act" is the root of this word). There is no key for the word trees; I will correct them. Due Tuesday.
2. Do the IPA-English spelling exercise given out in class. The key is on the back of the page. Due Tuesday.
3. Do Ex. 3-1 of Finegan, p. 98. Key here. Due Tuesday.
4. Do the FIRST (ONLY) of these transcription exercises. IMPORTANT NOTE: use the key handed out in class, not the key linked to the exercise. DUE THURSDAY.

 

Tues. 1/22/08: Here are helpful handouts for phonetic symbols. I strongly suggest that you consult them.

 

Thurs. 1/17:

Read Finegan Chapter 3 by Thursday. Be ready with questions on both Tuesday and Thursday if you have them.

Wriiten homework:
1. Do this Practice exercise in Morphological Analysis. The key is linked to the exercise; please self-correct. Due Tuesday, 1/22.
2. Go to wordspy.com. Find three examples each of new words formed by 1) compounding; 2) affixation; 3) acronyms or initialisms; 4) blends (this is a rarer category; try to find at least one. An example is "camikini", a combination "camisole" and "bikini"). Due Tuesday, 1/22.
3. Draw word trees for the words "unhappiness" and "dehumidifier". No key available. Due Thursday, 1/24.

 
Tues. 1/15: Here is a web handout on English morphology. It repeats a lot of the material in the textbook, but you might find it a convenient summary: An Overview of the English Morphological System

Assignments for Week 2

Read Finegan Chapter 2 by Tuesday, 1/15.

Written homework: Do this online exercise: "More morphology exercises". A key is attached to the exercise, and I would like you to self-correct your work as follows: Do not erase your errors. Rather, circle them, and if you want to make the correction, write it in next to the error or elsewhere on the page. PLEASE strive to write neatly and leave space around your work so that it is easy for me to read and possibly make comments. This exercise is due THURSDAY, 1/17.

 

Assignments for Week 1

Read Finegan Chapter 1.

 




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