ENGLISH 290: INTRODUCTION TO LINGUISTICS
English Department, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo
Spring Quarter 2009
Last updated on March 30, 2009

On this page: Schedule and Other Info - Course Description - Course Materials - Course Requirements - Grading

Links to other course pages:

Without language, human society as we know it could not exist. Language is the means by which we are able to share our thoughts with others. It is the medium through which all other social institutions, from interpersonal relationships to international diplomacy, are established and maintained. Literature is made of language; language is the main medium by which teachers instruct students and establish a rapport with them. We use language not just to communicate, but to establish trust, to persuade, to entertain, to get others to do things, and to form and maintain social bonds.

Linguistics is one of the sciences that study the human mind, such as psychology or cognitive science. Language is something the human mind does, and linguists try to figure out how language works in the mind. They do this by studying particular languages in great detail and by conducting psychological experiments. As a science, linguistics takes an objective viewpoint in all matters of language. Linguists observe that people make judgments about some language being 'good' while other language is 'bad', but they do not share these judgments. In fact, one job of linguistics is to point out that such judgments are based on social attitudes rather than facts about language.

You will learn a good deal about language structure -- of English and of other languages -- in this course, but the goal is not to improve your grammar or pronunciation, etc. We will study the way languages all over the world are structured--what they have in common as well as how they differ. We will also study how language and society interact. You will learn vocabulary and concepts that will allow you to talk about language, an ability that is a great asset for writers and teachers. We will look at case studies of applying linguistics to topics of interest to you, such as close reading and interpretation of literature, literacy teaching, and teaching English as a second language.

This course is more like a science course than other English courses. As with any science, there will be a lot of terminology to learn, as well as problems to solve. In many cases, there is only one right answer. Because many concepts in linguistics have to be applied to be understood, there will be repetitive application of these concepts in homework. This isn't 'busy work'; it's practice. Practice can be tedious and repetitive, but it is designed to help you internalize a principle or concept, just as piano practice or water-polo practice helps you internalize thought patterns and physical routines essential to attaining proficiency.  We will apply linguistic analysis directly in homework, in classwork, and on tests. Linguistics is great training for procedural, analytical, and critical thinking.

At Cal Poly, ENGL 290 is a required course for English majors. Students who plan to enter a multiple-subject credential program should consult with their major departments to verify that ENGL 290 will count towards their degree requirements. College of Education and Liberal Studies Program requirements change occasionally, and I am not always promptly informed of these changes.

Course materials:

Textbook: Language Files, Ninth Edition, Ohio State University Press, 2004. Please note that it is the Ninth Edition we are going to use.
Supplemental readings: Any supplemental readings will be made available via Blackboard.

Course requirements:   READ THIS SECTION AND ALL ASSOCIATED WEB PAGES CAREFULLY!
Attendance: More than 4 absences will harm your final grade. Please visit my Attendance Policy page for details. Tests: There will be a mid-term and a final exam. The final exam is cumulative (comprehensive). Short paper: There will be a short paper (6-8 pages) reporting web research due late in the quarter. Instructions here. Homework assignments: Textbook exercises and exercises from the course website. Completing these counts towards your grade. If you miss a class, go to the Assignments webpage to find out what was assigned and when it is due. Late homework will be accepted up to one week after the due date, but no later. Resubmits are due within one week of your receiving them. See the Assignments page for more detail on how homework works.

Class etiquette:
Teaching (as many of you will soon discover) is a demanding profession, requiring concentration and cooperation between teacher and audience. Behaviors that seem innocent can be very disruptive for your professor. Please follow these rules of etiquette to help me deliver clear lectures and attend to your needs, not your quirks: (a) Do not be late to class.** If there is persistent lateness, I will begin shutting the door when class begins and not permitting late students to enter. If you come in after roll has been taken, you count as absent. (b) When you arrive in the classroom, prepare for class immediately: Take out your textbook (which you should bring to every class meeting), notebook and pens, and set other materials aside. Rather than reading the Mustang Daily or chatting with classmates, review your notes from the previous class meeting, or re-read the textbook. Prepare your mind for the subject matter. (c) Please do not develop the habit of chatting with classmates during class. This is extremely distracting. If you have a question, please raise your hand and ask me.  (d) I do not mind drinks in the classroom, but please do not eat or chew gum. (e) Turn off all cell phones and beepers before you enter the classroom. (Discuss with me before class any emergency situation which requires you to keep such a device active.) (e) Academic honesty: Cheating and plagiarism will be grounds for issuing a failing grade for the assignment or the course and a report to the The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Read the document on Plagiarism and conform to it very carefully. Do not assume you will not make the mistakes described there. I have issued F's for papers and reported cases in recent years.

**If you have a special circumstance which causes persistent lateness, please discuss it with me. Trouble finding a parking space does not constitute a special circumstance.

Grading:   Your course grade will be whatever percentage you earn of 300 course points.

Grading Standards: Click here for my grading standards. This page will help you understand my expectations and how I grade your work.