Anthropological Linguistic Field Methods
Dr. M.J.Hardman
FALL 2000
LIN 6165
ANG 6930
TUR 2336
T 7 / R 7-8
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The basic skill of any linguist is to discover structure in language. In this
course you will learn how to do that by discovering structure in a language you
do not know, starting only with paper and pencil, listening to and interacting
with a native speaker of that language. You will learn how to construct
questions that leave the answer open. You will learn how to avoid
predetermining answers. You will learn how to avoid distorting data. You will
learn how to make preliminary analyses, and then how to test those analyses,
and then how to make new and different analyses. Then you will learn how to
write up your early discoveries so that the material is available to other
scholars. In all of this you will learn, in detail, how good ethics and good
science mutually imply each other, that your science is a human science, human
beings learning together with other human beings.
TEXTBOOK:
(available at University copy)
Hardman, MJ and Hamano, Syoko Saito Language Structure Discovery Methods Andean
Press: Gainesville, FL, 4th edition 1995
OTHER MATERIALS:
Supplies: scratch paper for in–class transcription drills or drills with
classmates
yellow legal pad for initial consultant elicitation
flash slips of scrap paper for initial memorizing of each session
permanent filebook — sewn, not spiral
box(es) for playfile
3x5 slips (several thousand)
3x5 cards (hundred or so)
variable index tabs in as many colors as possible— the kind that can be cut
into varying lengths
minimum of 3 writing colors (black, green, red recommended)
If you have access to a Macintosh and the Filemaker program (University of
Florida has it) then I can supply you with the layouts necessary to do some of
the filing on the computer. You may wish to attempt to use the Shoebox program,
now available for both Macintosh & IBM. Computer use is optional.
HOME AND CLASS WORK:
Problems will be assigned out of the book
Primary focus will be on the discovery of the structure of a language of our
choosing.
Papers: Two papers, one a phonemic statement, due in approximately 6 weeks; one
a grammatical statement due the first day of test week.
Some additional readings will be recommended.
Week One
Week Two
- Read all the preliminary materials and chap 1
Work through Chapter 2
- Read and work all problems in Chapter 3
Week Three
- Read and work all problems in Chapter 4
- Jaqaru, Tokyo and Quichua Problem sets Chapter 5
Week Four
- Read Chapter 6
- Begin elicitation with consultant
Week Five Continue elicitation/analysis with
consultant
Week Six Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
Week Seven Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
- Read Chapter 8 in preparation for writing paper
Week Eight Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
- Hand in Phonology paper
- Read Chapter 7 in preparation for grammatical analysis
Week Nine Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
Week Ten Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
Week Eleven Continue elicitation/analysis with
consultant
Week Twelve Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
Week Thirteen Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
- Read Concluding remarks and all appendices
Week Fourteen
Week Fifteen Continue elicitation/analysis with consultant
Week Sixteen
-Hand in grammatical statement paper
Exam Week: Final meeting to discuss paper with consultant
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