In this class we will be studying some of the ways in which the context and presentation form of an utterance interact to affect our understanding of meaning. Our main topics this term will include reference, deixis, implicature, presupposition, speech acts, and the highlighting of information structure through word order and intonation.
This class has no prerequisites. For students starting this fall, it is the first of the Meaning and Use requirements. (For students following the older course catalog, the class will fit in the Sociolinguistics, Discourse Analysis, or Translation and Semantics specialization areas for the Ph.D. in Linguistics; it can count as an advanced course for the MA in Linguistics; and it can count as an elective for the non-thesis MA in TESOL.)
This is a graduate-level course with two objectives:
To provide practice in analyzing the impact of truth conditions,
context, and speaker intention on the interpretation of meaning.
To practice reading and discussing linguistic literature on pragmatics in order to gain insight into both theoretical aspects and practical applications of meaning construction in communication.
Course Materials
There are three items required. Two textbooks are available at the campus bookstore (400 S. Pecan St--on the corner of Pecan and UTA Boulevard) or through any other bookseller of your choice
Texts:
Pragmatics and Natural Language Understanding, 2nd edition. (1996).
Georgia M. Green. Mahwah, N.J. : Erlbaum. (ISBN: 0-8058-2166-X).
Pragmatics, (1983). Stephen C. Levinson. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press. (ISBN: 0-5212-914-2)
The third is a set of required articles soon to be available at Bird's Copies (208 S. East St. in Arlington).
Check here soon for the most current course schedule of readings and assignments.
There will also shortly be a link here to full citations from handouts and other readings mentioned in class.
Course Requirements
Grades will be determined as follows:
1.
Attendance / Participation
10%
Regular class attendance is required. You are responsible for the material presented in class lectures and for any handouts passed out in class as well as for any group work done in class.
2.
Homework Assignments
48%
There will be 3 homework assignments during the semester, each worth 16% of the final grade. Each assignment should be 2-3 pages, typed, double spaced. It should contain enough content to show that you understood the readings and that you can find some real life instance or application of it. I will grade on the following elements -- in descending order of importance: content (having the right information), clarity/originality (showing that you've digested the material), and form (correct spelling and grammar). Late assignments will be accepted only if a student has contacted me in advance. There is no make-up or extra credit work.
3.
Vocabulary Quiz
10%
There will be an in-class vocabulary quiz on the last day of regular classes, Thursday, Nov. 30. It will cover names and terms from the entire course.
4.
Term Paper
32%
Your 10-12 page final paper will be due during exam week. At that time you will
give a brief, ungraded oral presentation to share your findings with the class.
There will be no final exam.
Assignment grades will be determined as follows:
A-
90-92 %
B-
80-82 %
C-
70-72
D-
60-62%
F
59 or lower
A
93-96 %
B
83-86 %
C
73-76
D
63-66
A+
97-100 %
B+
87-89
C+
77-79
D+
67-69
University Policies
Americans With Disabilities Act. The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation (Public Law 93112, The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended). With the passage of new federal legislation entitled the "Americans With Disabilities Act" (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens.
All members of the UTA faculty are required by law to provide "reasonable accommodation" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. As a student, your responsibility rests with informing the instructor at the beginning of the semester (you must inform me in writing (e-mail is fine) no later than Tuesday, January 25, 2005)
and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels; for more information, contact UTA's Office of Students with Disabilities (located in the Lower Level of University Center).
According to Department of Linguistics and TESOL policy, "unofficial" or "informal" requests for accommodations (i.e., those not recorded by the Office of Students with Disabilities) cannot be honored.
Academic Dishonesty.At The University of Texas at Arlington, academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. Students involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from UTA.
According the UT System Regents' Rules and Regulations, "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts" (Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22).
While the Department of Linguistics and TESOL hopes to foster a sense of community in which students can enhance their educational experience by conferring with each other about the lectures, readings, and assignments, all work submitted must be the product of each student's own effort. Students are expected to know and honor the standards of academic integrity followed by American universities; ignorance of these standards is not an excuse for committing an act of academic dishonesty (including plagiarism). If you have questions, please speak with your instructor, your academic advisor, or the department chair.
Student Support Services Available: The University of Texas at Arlington supports a variety of student success programs to help you connect with the University and achieve academic success. These programs include learning assistance, developmental education, advising and mentoring, admission and transition, and federally funded programs. Students requiring assistance academically, personally, or socially should contact the Office of Student Success Programs at 817-272-6107 for information and referrals.
Enrolling in / Withdrawing from this Course: Students are responsible for making all decisions regarding their enrollment status in UTA courses. Should you decide to withdraw from this course, you must either (1) drop via the internet / SAM system or (2) complete an official "add/drop" and file it in the Linguistics and TESOL department office. Any student who stops attending class and/or fails to complete assigned work will not be "automatically" dropped; in such cases, unless you officially withdraw, you will receive a grade of F. (Note: Students enrolled in graduate courses may not "replace" a grade; all grades are permanent.)
A student dropping his/her last (only) course cannot withdraw as above. Rather, s/he must go in person to the UTA Registrar's Office (Davis Hall, First Floor) and complete a request to resign from the university.
Auditors: The Department of Linguistics and TESOL has a "no audit" policy. Students attending LING classes must be officially enrolled in those courses. Exception: Students who have already fulfilled a degree requirements and would like to sit in on a comparable course to prepare for their comprehensive / diagnostic examination may do so (with the permission of the professor).
Gifts to Faculty: The Department of Linguistics and TESOL has a strict "no gift" policy: instructors may not accept gifts of any kind from students, including meals, food, or flowers. All linguistics instructors have been instructed to refuse gifts. Students can avoid placing their instructors in an awkward position by not offering them any gifts. Students wishing to honor their professors may make a contribution to the LING-TESOL Scholarship Fund; visit the department office (Hammond Hall 403) and ask for a "Gift Giving Guide."