LING 5381
The Computer And Natural Language:
Corpus Linguistics

Fall 2007

Classroom: 014 Trimble Hall, Tuesday/Wednesday, 7:00-8:20 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Laurel Smith Stvan
Office: 410 Hammond Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 5:00-6:00 p.m., and by appointment
Phone: (817) 272-5234
E-mail: stvan@uta.edu

Course Description

This course will explore some of the ways in which computer science and linguistics can inform each other. We will be concerned in particular with the ways in which computers can be used to both obtain the data that we examine and to provide the tools we use for analysis. A range of linguistic issues and problems that can benefit from computational approaches will be surveyed. These issues will be illustrated through readings and practical experience with several different concordance programs as well as sources of online corpora. No programming experience is required.

This course fulfills a requirement for the Ph.D. in Linguistics, but is open to any graduate student. There is no prerequisite.

Course Objectives

This graduate-level course is intended to help you in achieving the following four objectives:
Required Course Materials

There will be two required texts for this class:

Grading

Course grades will be determined according to the following key:

Attendance, preparation, and participation 10%
Homework assignments (5 X 10%) 50%
Vocabulary quiz 10%
Final Paper 30%
100%

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

Graded Assignments

In addition to exercises throughout the course, a final paper is required, as an opportunity for you to produce a carefully crafted, extended piece of writing showing an application of computer analysis to data of your choice. Here you will demonstrate how the techniques we have discussed in class could be used to assist you in analyzing your own material. The final paper should be about 12 typewritten pages. No final exam will be given.

Course Policies

Regular attendance is expected at lectures, and your presence and participation is included as part of the class grade. For each class, students will be expected to have completed both the readings for each lecture and any assigned problems to be discussed prior to class. Students assume responsibility for acquiring all notes, handouts, and announcements. More than three absences without a written medical excuse will lower your grade by 1 percentage point per class missed.

Schedule

If there are any changes from the paper copy given out on the first day of class, the most current course schedule of readings and assignments will be linked here. (Last update, Dec. 7, 2005-- to reflect final paper extension).

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, Sept. 6, 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."


Go to Laurel Stvan's home page.

Last Updated: July 6, 2007