SYLLABUS: "Linguistics of American Sign Language"
Course title: "Linguistics of American Sign Language"
Course description: An introduction to American Sign Language Linguistics. Students will learn the following about American sign language: characteristics, parameters, description systems, models, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, variation, historical change, discourse, and related topics.
LING 2301. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HUMAN LANGUAGE. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the scientific study of human language, using English as an example. Topics in the course include how sounds are produced, how words and sentences are structured, how and why language changes, how language is acquired by children and adults, how the brain processes language, and how language and society intersect.
ASL 4330 (If we want to mirror the Spanish program)
ASL 3304 (If we want to mirror the Russian program)
ASL 4321 (if we want to mirror the Korean program) KORE-4321-(Topics in Korean Linguistics)
Instructor:
Preferred Contact:
Office hours: TBA (to be announced) and/or by appointment
Video Phone: TBA (to be announced) and/or by appointment
Prerequisite: ASL 4 and/or equivalent
Welcome: Hello and welcome to this course! You've picked a great topic to be studying. ASL Linguistics is a fun and interesting subject that can open for you an amazing set of tools to further your understanding and acquisition of American Sign Language.
Required for this class:
● Web access to course home page: [LINK]
● Course Text: [LINK] (PDF format)
Examinations and assignments:
Quizzes: You need to complete 25 multiple choice open book quizzes. These quizzes correspond to the readings. All tests may be cumulative. You submit these quizzes online. "Click here." (Note: those quizzes used an older coding / scripting approach that is now obsolete -- discuss with Bill Vicars regarding potential new quizzes covering this material).
Midterm: This is a cumulative multiple choice test.
Final exam: This is a cumulative multiple choice test.
Grading:
Total points possible: 1000. Scale: 100-95%=A, 90 = A-, 87=B+, 83=B, 80=B-, 77=C+,73=C, 70=C-, 67=D+, 63=D, 60=D-, 59=F.
Make-ups:
I'm flexible and willing to work with honest, dedicated students. Since this is an independent study course, you pick your own dates. I encourage you to stick with them. If for some reason you need to postpone an assignment that indicates you are not as "dedicated" of a student as a student who doesn't need to postpone an assignment. If you turn in your assignments on time that indicates you are a more "excellent" student than someone who can't get their act together. Grades are supposed to be a reflection of what kind of student you are: excellent = A, good = B, average = C, poor = D, and a failure = F. Thus if you turn in your assignments after you are supposed to turn them in (according to your schedule) I'll take that as an indication that you are less than excellent and I'll adjust your grade accordingly.
Ethics, Attendance, Disabilities, and Class Environment: Assignments turned in late for any reason may receive no credit. Cheating and plagiarism are strictly forbidden. Penalties for cheating and plagiarism may include receiving an F for a particular assignment, an F for the course, or expulsion from the program. Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation.
Pep talk:
You can do this. I have near infinite patience. I love teaching and explaining. If you have questions, ask in class or email me and I'll get back to you within 48 hours. If you think I've overlooked your email, feel free to send your question again--I won't feel bothered--rather I'll be grateful for the communication (sometimes email doesn't arrive). If there is something I can do to make the class better for you please do suggest it. This class may be one of your more challenging accomplishments but I know if you work hard and put in the time--you will succeed.
Schedule: