1. Survey of Linguistic Method and Theory Ling 400

2. Instructor Instructor: Prof. Toshiyuki OgiharaInstructor: Prof. Toshiyuki Ogihara

3. Today’s Plan The courseThe course –Objectives and format Sub-disciplines of LinguisticsSub-disciplines of Linguistics –Each sub-discipline and some examples Competence vs. PerformanceCompetence vs. Performance –Linguistics aims to characterize the competence of native speakers (of a particular language) Prescriptive / descriptive grammarPrescriptive / descriptive grammar –Linguists are interested in description, not prescription

4. Word of the day

5. Course Objectives Methods for describing human languages at various levelsMethods for describing human languages at various levels Examples of the diversity of world languagesExamples of the diversity of world languages Core areas: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmaticsCore areas: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics Interdisciplinary areas: language acquisition, language variationInterdisciplinary areas: language acquisition, language variation

6. Resources Language Files 11th Edition, The Ohio State University Press (available from the University Bookstore).Language Files 11th Edition, The Ohio State University Press (available from the University Bookstore).

7. Evaluation Grading:Grading: quizzes (only six of the seven quizzes will count) 20%quizzes (only six of the seven quizzes will count) 20% homework assignments (only six of the seven assignments will count) 20%homework assignments (only six of the seven assignments will count) 20% midterm 25%midterm 25% final exam 35%final exam 35%

8. Linguistics Knowledge PhoneticsPhonetics PhonologyPhonology MorphologyMorphology SyntaxSyntax SemanticsSemantics PragmaticsPragmatics

9. Phonetics The study of speech soundsThe study of speech sounds –How various sounds are made (articulatory phonetics) –How to describe them using IPA (The International Phonetic Alphabet)

10. Examples (Phonetics) signsign cidercider the same sound — should be transcribed (i.e. represented in writing) in the same waythe same sound — should be transcribed (i.e. represented in writing) in the same way

11. Phonology The sound system of a languageThe sound system of a language Includes the inventory of soundsIncludes the inventory of sounds The features of those soundsThe features of those sounds The rules for combining the soundsThe rules for combining the sounds

12. Examples (Phonology) pinpin spinspin –The two “p sounds” are not really the same sounds. –[p] with an extra puff of air occurs at the beginning of a word (roughly) –[p] without a puff of air occurs elsewhere –So their occurrences in English are rule- governed.

13. Morphology The study of the structure of wordsThe study of the structure of words morph = ‘form’ (Greek)morph = ‘form’ (Greek) The smallest units of meaningThe smallest units of meaning Many words consist of smaller meaningful unitsMany words consist of smaller meaningful units

14. Examples (Morphology) Word formationquick+lyWord formationquick+ly Grammatical markers dog+s, turn+edGrammatical markers dog+s, turn+ed

15. Syntax The study of how words form sentencesThe study of how words form sentences Grammatical categoriesGrammatical categories Rules for sentence and phrase formationRules for sentence and phrase formation Directionality of combinationDirectionality of combination Constraints on combinationsConstraints on combinations

16. Examples (Syntax) John loves Mary. (grammatical)John loves Mary. (grammatical) Loves John Mary. (ungrammatical)Loves John Mary. (ungrammatical) John Mary loves. (ungrammatical)John Mary loves. (ungrammatical) – (A very rough first approximation) A string of words consisting of a name a verb and another name(in this order) is grammatical.

17. Semantics The study of meaningThe study of meaning Meaning of individual words and of their relations with one another.Meaning of individual words and of their relations with one another. The relation between syntax and semanticsThe relation between syntax and semantics –How to talk about sentence meanings –Truth conditions, logical consequences

18. Examples (Semantics) John must smoke and John has to smoke mean the same thing (for all practical purposes).John must smoke and John has to smoke mean the same thing (for all practical purposes). John must not smoke means “John is obligated NOT to smoke.”John must not smoke means “John is obligated NOT to smoke.” John does not have to smoke means “John is NOT obligated to smoke.”John does not have to smoke means “John is NOT obligated to smoke.”

19. Pragmatics The study of language useThe study of language use –Non-literal meanings –How to do things with words

20. Examples (Pragmatics) Can you teach phonology classes?Can you teach phonology classes? –Yes, I can even teach graduate seminars. – Go ahead and give a lecture on phonology. Can you pass the salt?Can you pass the salt? –Yes, I can. In fact, I can even pass the pepper. (and do nothing) –…. (say nothing and just pass the salt)

21. Word of the day

22. Competence (Unconscious) knowledge of language(Unconscious) knowledge of language –Linguists are interested in describing this “internalized grammar” that any native speaker of a particular language has Mental grammarMental grammar Accounts for creativityAccounts for creativity Not always equal to performanceNot always equal to performance Performance behavior may be flawedPerformance behavior may be flawed

23. Performance You have hissed my mystery lecture — you have tasted the whole worm.You have hissed my mystery lecture — you have tasted the whole worm. –Slips of the tongue (Spoonerism) You have missed my history lecture — you have wasted the whole term.You have missed my history lecture — you have wasted the whole term.

24. Creativity of language Part of speaker’s competencePart of speaker’s competence Use of finite linguistic means (words, rules)Use of finite linguistic means (words, rules) Enables us to create/understand an infinite number novel phrases or sentencesEnables us to create/understand an infinite number novel phrases or sentences

25. Descriptive grammar Linguistics aims for description and not prescriptionLinguistics aims for description and not prescription There are no good or bad languagesThere are no good or bad languages There are no “advanced” or “primitive” languagesThere are no “advanced” or “primitive” languages No correct or incorrect dialectsNo correct or incorrect dialects Linguistics is non-judgmental about linguistic differencesLinguistics is non-judgmental about linguistic differences

26. Prescription “The widespread acceptance of informal dialogue on the Internet is creating a generation of Americans fluent in unrefined, inexpressive and immature English. Much as certain dialects of English have helped create sub-classes of second class citizens, frequent Internet users are becoming easier to pick out every day.”“The widespread acceptance of informal dialogue on the Internet is creating a generation of Americans fluent in unrefined, inexpressive and immature English. Much as certain dialects of English have helped create sub-classes of second class citizens, frequent Internet users are becoming easier to pick out every day.”