World Languages
WLAN 2350
Dwight E. Langston
Irby 207D
450-5646
Office Hours:
MWF 8-9; 11-12
TTh 8:00-12:00
Spring Semester, 2003
Catalog Description
An introduction to the languages of the world from geographical, historical, social, and psychological perspectives. Emphasis on the diversity in the world's verbal communication systems as well as the universal aspects underlying all human symbolic behavior. Basic introduction to language structure, phonetics/phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
Required Texts
Katzner, Kenneth. The Languages of the World. 3rd Ed., London & New York: Routledge, 2002. ***(Identified in assignments as KLW.)
Clark, Virginia P., Paul Eschholz & Alfred Rosa, Eds. Language. Introductory Readings, 5th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1995. ***(Identified in assignments as LIR.)
Course Goals
To acquaint students with the diversity of language systems in the world; to present a survey of the language families of the globe and to trace their historical development to their present status; to impart basic general information regarding linguistic structure, morphology, syntax, phonetics and semantics; to point out the linguistic interrelatedness of many diverse cultures around the globe; to explore the facts and fictions concerning both first and second language acquisition.
Evaluation
Four quizzes, a final examination, student research reports/presentations. Grades will be computed by averaging the three highest quiz scores, the 7- to 10-page written report grade, the grade for the small-group presentation (two to three students) and the final examination grade. The following percentages will be used:
| Quizzes (three) |
- 10% each |
| Final Exam |
- 40% |
| Written report (7 to 10 pages) |
- 20% |
| Small-group presentation |
- 10% |
| |
100% |
Course Topics & Reading Assignments
Click this sentence to open a link listing your textbook assignments for the Spring Semester.
*This is the first step toward THE One World Language.
Tritt Zwei Mal Zwei: Particles in a pretzel!
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