Linguistics 1: Introduction to Linguistics

Lectures

Instructors		Penny Eckert (eckert@stanford.edu) Office: 460-108. Telephone: 650-725-1564. Office hours: Tuesday 1:30--2:30, or by appointment.	Ivan A. Sag (sag@stanford.edu) Office: 460-103. Telephone: 650-723-1578. Office hours: Monday 4:15--5:15, or by appointment.
TAs		Laura Whitton (lwhitton@stanford.edu) Office: 460-122 Office phone: 650-723-2213 Office hours: Wednesday 12:00-1:00 PM	Jason Grafmiller (jasong1@stanford.edu) Office: 460-119 Office phone: Office hours: Tuesday 11-12
	MWF 1:15-2:05 in 380-380C
Sections		Wed, 5:30-6:30 in 160-315	Thu, 12-1:00 in 160-315

• This course provides a general overview of the cognitive organization of linguistic structure and the social nature of language use. Why language learning is hard. Why computers have trouble understanding human languages. How languages differ from one another. How and why speakers of the same language speak differently. How language is used strategically.
• The course will be very `hands-on', teaching you how to solve problems based on datasets from diverse languages.
• The basic readings will come from the textbook, Language Files
  Other readings will be available on-line or on reserve in the Linguistics Department and at Meyer Library.
• If you would like to consult a basic linguistic textbook about any of the material discussed in this course, some candidates are listed here.
• Homework is due at the beginning of class on Mondays. Please be sure to write your name on your homework and to staple multiple pages. Also, make sure you leave large margins so that we can write comments.
  We encourage students to work in small groups on the exercises, but all homework assignments are to be done alone.
• Students are required to participate in the linguistics experimental subject pool. Read this information sheet right away for the specifics on the requirement and how to register for the pool. There's a little more information about the subject pool here.

We will be posting copies of the slides we use in class as lecture notes. By clicking on the dates in the following table, you can access the lecture notes, reading assignments, and pointers to other relevant material. The homework assignments are also linked into this table.

Assessment

Workload, grading, etc.

There will be problem sets most weeks and two take-home exams. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss the weekly problem sets in groups, though each student must write up his/her homework individually. Final grades will be calculated as follows: 30% for homeworks, 30% for each exam, 5% for class/section participation and 5% for participation in the subject pool.

Note that homework is a significant part of your grade. Each year, a few students fail to turn in some or all homework assignments, and are then taken aback by the effect.

Sections will be for the purpose of amplifying and reinforcing your understanding of material presented in class or in the readings. They are also intended to help you develop problem-solving abilities. No new material (or at least none that you will be held responsible for) will be introduced in sections.

Late Homework Policy: Homeworks are due in class at the beginning of the lecture on the day indicated on the syllabus (always a Monday). Unavoidable late homework submissions (due to illness, death in the family, etc.) should be approved in advance by one of the instructors (NB--not by a TA). Homeworks submitted late without prior approval will be penalized. Those received later on Monday will lose 15% credit. Those received on Tuesday will lose 30% credit. No other late homeworks will be accepted. Never leave homeworks in the mailbox of a TA or instructor without explicit prior approval to do so.

Students with documented disabilities: Students who have a disability which may necessitate an academic accommodation or the use of auxiliary aids and services in a class must initiate the request with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC will evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend appropriate accommodations, and prepare a verification letter dated in the current academic term in which the request is being made. Please contact the DRC as soon as possible; timely notice is needed to arrange for appropriate accommodations. The DRC is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (phone 723-1066; TDD 725-1067). See http://www.stanford.edu/group/DRC/ for more information.

Summary of Course Requirements