2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Linguistics A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Hilofumi Yamamoto
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (M-124)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T109
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This class aims to try to find the answers for solving the examples in everyday language use.
Learn about the beginning of the analysis method of language.
For Zoom, please refer to http://cuckoo.js.ila.titech.ac.jp/~yamagen/ling/lingA.html
Course description and aims
The goal of this class is to understand the relationship between language and society or yourself.
By writing a report, you learn how to explain the language.
By dispatching discussions, we eliminate prejudice of my language.
By creating questions for an oral examination, you will find problems lying in the field of linguistics.
Keywords
language, society, use, competence, performance, communication, the methods of analyses
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
We will divide students into small groups, and progress with exercise questions.
Analyze languages according to themes decided by themselves, and perform poster presentations.
Also, comment on poster presentation of other students.
Submit the contents of the poster presentation as a report.
Create exam questions from textbooks and submit.
Interview the exam questions by oral exam and fail if they can not answer.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Language and Society Chi-square test for word frequency analysis. | Choose the theme of language analysis assignment that matches your interest, and make the research question. |
| Class 2 | Bi-lingualism and Multi-lingualism | Research semilingualism; explain familiar examples of semilingualism; clarify whether it is due to the structural features of the language or the characteristics of the speaker's way of thinking. |
| Class 3 | Dialect | Describe the differences and common points between the dialects you know and the language of yourself in the Venn diagram and describe in which way the dialect is different from your style. |
| Class 4 | Language Change | Explain an example of Japanese language change except for removed words. |
| Class 5 | Language register and style Formats of a poster and a final report | Compare a written style of email with that of an academic paper. |
| Class 6 | Linguistic competece and performance | Describe the differences between vocabulary you understand and that you can use. |
| Class 7 | Presentation by posters, and Summary | Prepare a presentation on a theme that you have chosen. Send comments on the last presentations by web form. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Yokuwakaru Shakaigengogaku (Understanding Sociolinguistics) Tanaka and Tanaka eds., Minarubashoten.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
[Nyumon] Kotobanosekai (An introduction to the world of language) Seda et al. eds., Taishukanshoten.
Since textbooks are necessary for creating exam questions, please purchase them.
Evaluation methods and criteria
We will assess the contribution to discussions, a final report, tests, assignments, poster presentation, poster comments — the creation of questions for an oral examination. We will evaluate students by 100 % participation.
If the assignments for each session and the final assignment are insufficient, the course may not be passed.
Related courses
- LAH.T210 ： Linguistics B
- LAH.T309 ： Linguistics C
- LAH.H109 ： Special Lecture : Language and Culture
Prerequisites
It is better to take Linguistics and culture in advance. Students must discuss the topics with their peers.
Homeworks are essential, and students must submit all of the homework and reports.
Other
All assignments/submissions such as attendance, poster presentation, discussion, preparation of examination questions which you must create properly are mandatory. The final examination is an oral exam. If you can not answer the exam questions, even if you submit all of the assignments, you will fail, so be careful.
Students who are not motivated to discuss during class are rejected on the spot or canceled.
Students who are not good at discussions are not suitable for this lesson, so I recommend other subjects.