Psy 491 -- Special Topics
Psychology of Language

Dr. C. George Boeree

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/psylangsyl.html


This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the study of language in order to prepare them for more advanced study in linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, and other related fields.  It has been specifically designed to make students aware of the great variety of languages in the world.  The format is lecture, small projects, and discussion.

Text:  There is no formal textbook for this course.  Readings are available on the internet - see links below.

Grades:  Grades will be based on attendance and tests.

90 -100% = A
80 - 89%  = B
70 - 79%  = C
60 - 69%  = D

Office:  117 Franklin Science Center
Office hours:  9 - 10 MWF; 11 - 12:30 TTh

E-mail:  cgboeree@comcast.net
Homepage:  http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer

Outline:

Part One

1.  Languages of the world -- an introduction

Introduction to the Study of Languages
Basic Language Structures
Language Families of the World (maps)

2.  Phonetics and the IPA

Phonetics
The International Phonetic Alphabet (at Omniglot)
General American English Phonetics
Representing English Phonetics (at Omniglot)

3.  Writing and the alphabet

Chinese Writing (at Omniglot)
The Origin of the Alphabet
The Evolution of Alphabets
The Cyrillic Alphabet (at Omniglot)

Study Outline 1

Test one - Feb 7

Part Three

7.  Syntax and Morphology

Morphology (Dr. Chip Gerfen)
Morphology
Syntax (Dr. Chip Gerfen)

8.  Semantics

Componential Analysis
Semantics
Semantics (Dr. Chip Gerfen)

Study Outline 3

Test three - Mar 27 ?


Part Two

4.  Language change

Comparative Linguistics (Dr. Chip Gerfen)
The Evolution of English
The Evolution of Language
The Indo-European Family of Languages (maps, charts)
The Evolution of the Indo-European Language (maps, charts, and timetable)

5.  Origin and physiology of language

Animals and language (Dr. Chip Gerfen)
The Chimp Talk Debate (George Johnson)
The Origins of Language
Speech and the Brain
Language after a Stroke (Speech Pathology Australia)

6.  Language development in children

Language Acquisition (Dr. Chip Gerfen)
Language Development in Children
Helping Your Baby to Talk (Speech Pathology Australia)
First Five Years (Speech Pathology Australia)
Phonetic Steps (Speech Pathology Australia)

Study Outline 2

Test two - Feb 28 ?

Part Four

9.   Sociolinguistics

Sociolinguistics (Dr. Chip Gerfen)
The Dialects of English
Geordie (Varieties of English)African
American Vernacular English (Varieties of English)
Flappers 2 Rappers
1860's Slang (Havemann)
Women's Language (Put Learning First)

10.  Pidgins, creoles, and beyond

How Bona to Vada Your Eek (World Wide Words)
Bislama (Varieties of English)
Louisiana Creole (LeCorde)
Esperanto (Esperanto Society of Chicago)

Study Outline 4

Test four - May 1 (for certain)