Structure of the English Language: ENGL 452/552.101

Texts:  Fromkin, Victoria and Robert Rodman.  An Introduction to Language

Webster's New World Dictionary [Any hardback edition; also on reserve in Cook Library.]

February 1
    A.  Course Overview:  Language and Grammars of Languages
    B.  The Systems of Language:  Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics
    C.  The Sounds of English: Articulatory Phonetics
Assignment: Read Chapter I; Chapter
6.

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February 8
    A.  Articulatory Phonetics
    B.  Phonology: The Sound System of English
Assignment:  Read Chapter 6;
Prepare the exercises on pp. 248-251;  Read Chapter 7, pp.
251-263.

February 15
    A.  Phonology:  Group Work on
the Exercises 
    B.  Mechanisms of Sound Change
    C.  Phonology and Writing
Assignment:  Read Chapter 12,
concentrating on pp. 505-513;  Exercises 5-8; Sound Change
Exercise (to hand in)

February 22
    A.  Sound Change:  Diachronic vs. Synchronic: 
    B.  The English Spelling System:  Pro and Contra

Assignment: Review for Test I.  Note:  Only students with filled-out review sheets may participate;  others must leave.

February 29

A.  Introduction to English Morphology  
B.  TEST I

Assignment:  Chapter 2; Exercises 1, 3, 4, 9, 10

March 7
    A.  Morphology: The Shapes of English
    B.  Morphology: The Composition of the Lexicon
    C.  Changes in the Lexicon:  Forms and Meanings
Assignment:  Chapter 8, pp. 332-342; Word Formation and Meaning Change Practice Exercises

March 14
    A.  Changes in the Lexicon:  New Words from Old
    B.  The Semantic Component of the Lexicon:  Meaning Structure and Change
Assignment:  Chapter 4; Exercise 1, 4, 5, 11, 15.  Word Formation Problem (to hand in).
Review for Test II. Note:  Only students with filled-out review sheets may participate;  others must leave.

March 28
    A.  Semantic Features and Diachronic Change:  Semantic Drift
    B.  Semantic Features and Synchronic Change:  Tropes, Idioms, Slang
    C.  Review for Test II

Assignment:  Prepare for Test II;  Meaning Change Problem (to hand in).

April 4
    A.   Overview of Traditional Grammar:  Basic Sentence Patterns and Their Representation
    B.  TEST II
 Assignment: Traditional Grammar Basic Definitions; Sentence Diagramming Conventions; Practice Exercises

April 11
    A.  Traditional Grammar:  Phrases and Clauses
    B.  Transformational Grammar
Assignment: Chapter 3; Exercises 1-4; 6, 7, 13, 14, 17

April 18
    A.  Transformational Grammar
    B.  Social and Regional "Grammars"
Assignment:  Chapters 7, 10, 11

April 25
     A.  Language in Its Social Setting
     B.  American Speech Communities
Assignment: Term Projects Due

May 2
    A.  Child Language Acquisition
    B.  Genie:  A Case History
Assignment:  Prepare Project Presentations and Final Exam review

May 9

    A.  Project Presentations

    B.  Final Exam Review

May 16

FINAL EXAMINATION:  4:15 - 6:15