Ling 001     Schedule of lectures and assignments

The schedule below shows the topics, assigned readings, exams, and homework due dates for the Spring 2006 offering of Linguistics 001: Introduction to Linguistics, at the University of Pennsylvania. See also the course syllabus and readings.

The weekly readings are listed on a separate web page. Be aware that the lecture and homework links will often not function until we reach that point in the semester.

Week 1

Jan 9 

Introduction and background concepts See readings Homework 1 due Jan 18;
see answers

Jan 11 

Notions of grammar
Week 2

Jan 16 

Martin Luther King holiday (no class) See readings Homework 2 due Jan 25;
see answers

Jan 18 

Language as a human instinct
Week 3

Jan 23 

Sounds of language See readings Homework 3 due Feb 1;
see answers

Jan 25 

Structure of sound
Week 4

Jan 30 

(Written language) not covered See readings Homework 4 due Feb 8;
see answers

Feb 1 

Reading language
Week 5

Feb 6 

Structure of sentences See readings Homework 5 due Feb 15;
see answers

Feb 8 

Generative grammar
Week 6

Feb 13 

Structure of words See readings Homework 6 due Feb 22;
see answers

Feb 15 

Knowledge of words
Week 7

Feb 20 

Understanding language See readings No homework;
study for midterm on Feb 27

Feb 22 

Contexts of meaning
Week 8

Feb 27 

Midterm exam (see answers) See readings No homework or recitations this week;
Spring Break, March 6-10

Mar 1 

Language, culture, and thought
Week 9

Mar 13 

Languages of the world See readings Homework 7 due Mar 22;
see answers

Mar 15 

Language in history
Week 10

Mar 20 

Language, location, and identity See readings Homework 8 due March 29;
see answers

Mar 22 

Linguistic variation
Week 11

Mar 27 

Learning to speak See readings Homework 9 due Apr 6;
see answers

Mar 29 

Learning what words mean
Week 12

Apr 3 

Language processing See readings Homework 10 due Apr 12;
see answers

Apr 5 

Language in the brain
Week 13

Apr 10 

Animal communication See readings No homework this week

Apr 12 

Evolution of language
Week 14

Apr 17 

Universality of language See readings No homework;
study for final on May 2

Apr 19 

Conclusions

Monday,
May 1
 

Review session, 3:00–4:00 pm
Logan Hall, Room 17

Tuesday,
May 2
 

Final exam, 12:00–2:00 pm
Logan Hall, Room 17