Please go to the renewed site.
Course syllabus (as of 9/2/2019, subject to minor revisions): download a short version (pp.1-3) from here
Dates/time: T & Th 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.
Classroom: SDL202 (new)
Instructor: Sayaka Abe
E-mail: sabe@middlebury.edu
Office: FIC LF01-E, ext. 5486 Office hrs: W 1-4 p.m. & by appt.
Webpage [this site]: https://sites.middlebury.edu/introjapaling/ (this site) (for general info, schedule updates, and selected materials)
Canvas: https://middlebury.instructure.com/courses/4770 (Registered students only — for protected materials, e.g., grades, homework/paper submissions, articles and other copyrighted materials )
In this course, we will closely examine the architecture and workings of Japanese words, sentences and discourse, informed by linguistic theories. The goal of the course is to deepen our understanding of the Japanese language and its relationship to cognitive, cultural and social factors. We will learn methods for analyzing speech sounds (phonetics and phonology), grammar (morphology and syntax), meanings (semantics), and contexts (pragmatics and sociolinguistics), occasionally drawing on other languages for comparison. By the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) apply basic linguistic methodology and concepts to Japanese data; 2) formulate research questions; and 3) support arguments with evidence obtained from primary and secondary sources. Activities and assignments will include lectures, in-class exercises, student-led discussions, quizzes, journals, and a paper. We will be reading and discussing book chapters and articles, in addition to textbook sections. This course will be taught in English; no prerequisites.
Course materials (required to purchase)
- Hasegawa, Y. (2014). Japanese: A linguistic introduction. – Cambridge University Press. (Website)
- Book chapters and articles (Will be made available on Canvas)