Course Description
The course aims at helping students to observe the linguistic heterogeneity of the world by introducing them to various language families and examining their genetic and structural similarities or differences. In pursuing the above concern, students will be introduced to comparative linguistic methods, especially genetic and typological classification of languages.
Linguistic evidence including lexical (cognates) and structural features (especially phonetic, morphophonological, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic features) which bring languages together or set them apart will be synthesized and analyzed. Excerpts will be drawn from Indo-European languages (notably Germanic, Romance, and Slavic languages), Central Euroasian, Near Eastern, Polynesian, Niger-Kordofanian, Nilo-Saharan, Khoisan, and Afro-Asiatic language groups to support facts about genetic and typological classification.
Also to be discussed is types and causes of language endangerment and the politics about the world's languages, especially language policy issues in developed and emerging democracies. Once the students acquire the analytical tools, they will be guided to make a critical linguistic examination of ten languages each of which has a distinctive structural, historical, social and cultural characteristics and status. The languages to be discussed include: Cape York Creol, Chinese, Guugu Yimidhirr, Jacaltec, Japanese, Malagasy, Maninka, Mohawk, Russian, and Swahili.

Course Textbook
Shopen, Timothy. 1987. Languages and their Status Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Shopen, Timothy. 1987. Languages and their speakers. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Evaluation
1. Written Assignment (WA) 20% of final grade
2. Attendance & Class Participation (ACP) 10% of final grade
3. Quizzes (QZ) 30% of final grade
4. Group Presentation (CP) 10% of final grade
5. Final Language Profile Project (FLP) 30% of final grade

Course Policy
1. Assignments. All assignments must be neatly typed. One late assignment will be allowed for the semester; that late assignment must be turned in at the class meeting following the date for the assignment. Any other late assignment may be turned in for comments but it will not count toward the final grade.

 2. Incompletes will be considered (by instructor) only on receipt of a written request from the student and only in compliance with university guidelines for use of Incompletes.

 3. Final language profile : Due April 30, 2002 5:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS. The profile must be neatly typed, double-spaced and one copy will be kept by instructor. If you wish to have a copy with comments returned to you, you must turn in two copies on the due date.

 4.Quiz retakes, extra credit: NONE

 5. Makeup exams: Instructor must be notified in advance if a student cannot take an exam at a scheduled time (emergencies excepted of course.) If this is not done or if the student's reason for not being able to take the exam at the schedule time is not legitimate, the student will not be allowed to make up the exam.

 6. Course changes: Students shall be responsible for all announcements and changes in the course program which are given in class, whether they attend the class in which the announcement is made or not.

7. Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. However, if for some legitimate reason, you are unable to attend a class, it is your responsibility to arrange in advance to have a classmate pick up handouts, assignments, for you etc. You can however come to the instructor for further information or clarification WHEN NECESSARY.

8. Tardiness Policy Students who arrive late to class distract both the instructor and other students from lesson. As a courtesy to your fellow students and your instructor, please make every effort to arrive on time for class.

 TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR

 Week 1 Jan 8 & 10 Linguistic heterogeneity; Genetic classification of languages
Week 2 Jan 15 & 17 Typological classification of languages
Week 3 Jan 22 & 24 Endangered Languages
Week 4 Jan 29 & 31 Swahili
Week 5 Feb 5 & 7 Jacaltec
Week 6 Feb 12 & 14 Russian
Week 7 Feb 19 & 21 Malagasy
Week 8 Feb 26 & 28 Mohawk
Week 9 March 5 & 7 Guugu Yimidhirr
Week 10 March 9--17 Spring Break
Week 11 March 19 & 21 The Politics about the World's Languages
Week 12 March 26 & 28 Maninka
Week 13 April 2 & 4 Cape York Creole
Week 14 April 9 & 11 Japanese
Week 15 April 16 & 18 Chinese
Week 16 April 23 & 25 Students' Presentations of Final Project
Week 17 April 30 Final Project. Due 5:00 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS

REFERENCES IN THE MAIN LIBRARY
Comrie, B. 1987 The World's major Languages P371 W6 1987
Ruhlen, M. 1987 A Guide to the World's Languages P203 R8 1987
Voegelin, C. and F. Voegelin 1977 Classification and index of the World's Languages. N.Y.: Elsevier. P203 V872 1977.