The Nature and Structure of the English Language

The Nature and Structure of the English Language

English 103A
Fall 1994, Tuesday and Thursday, 11:30-1:00, E1 3518

Randy Harris
Hagey Hall 247, x5362, raha@watarts
Home phone (Milton): (905) 876-3972
Hours: Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00; Wednesdays, 9:00-10:30; or whenever you can catch me.

Course epitome
Language has two main dimensions, a social one and a mental one. You use it to participate in your culture, and you use it to think with; so does everyone else.
English 103A looks at the nature of English from both of these perspectives—as an instrument of thought, and as an instrument of culture?by tracing its history and its varieties.

Required Text
McCrum, Cran, and MacNeil, The story of English

Recommended Text
Ingram, Talk, talk, talk

Reserve Text
Lakoff and Johnson, Metaphors we live by

Requirements
Midterm (13 October) 30%
Paper (24 November) 30%
Final 40%

Rules of the game
No late assignments will be accepted,   no extensions will be granted, and   no incompletes will be awarded, without very strong reasons.
Please have all readings done before class, and be prepared to discuss them.

SCHEDULE

Class	Readings	Videos	Topics
13/9	introduction		Introduction
15/9	chpt. 1
20/9		An English speaking world	Englishes
22/9
27/9			Metaphors we live by
29/9	chpt. 2
4/10		Mother tongue
6/10	chpt. 9		History of English
11/10
13/10	chpt. 3		*****MIDTERM*****
18/10		Muse of fire
20/10			History of English
25/10
27/10	chpts. 4 & 5
1/11		Guid Scots tongue
3/11			Gaelic Englishes
8/11	chpt. 6
10/11		Black on White	Black English
15/11
17/11
22/11			Klingon
24/11			****PAPERS DUE****
29/11			Klingon
1/12

PAPER OUTLINE

Topic	My very strong druthers are that you choose a conceptual metaphor and explore some of its extensions and ramifications. If you have another topic in mind, please be sure you talk with me before taking it too far. If you hand in a paper on another topic without clearing it with me first, you will get zero; it will be treated as though you didn’t do the assignment at all.
Worth	30% of final grade
Format	Double spaced typescript, one side of the page only. Begin the first page, one quarter of the way down, with the title. Number all pages but the first in the top right hand corner. Follow with notes (if any) and references (if any) on separate pages.
Length	Three to five pages of text (between 1,000 and 1,500 words), exclusive of title page, notes and references (if any).
Citation format (in the text)	(Last name of author[s], date:page number). For example, "One of the most common conceptual metaphors in English is time is money (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980:7)."
Reference format (in the bibliography)	Follow McCrum, Cran, and MacNeil (369-70).

English 103A	Fall 1994, Tuesday and Thursday, 11:30-1:00, E1 3518
Randy Harris	Hagey Hall 247, x5362, raha@watarts Home phone (Milton): (905) 876-3972 Hours: Tuesdays, 1:00-3:00; Wednesdays, 9:00-10:30; or whenever you can catch me.
Course epitome	Language has two main dimensions, a social one and a mental one. You use it to participate in your culture, and you use it to think with; so does everyone else. English 103A looks at the nature of English from both of these perspectives—as an instrument of thought, and as an instrument of culture?by tracing its history and its varieties.
Required Text	McCrum, Cran, and MacNeil, The story of English
Recommended Text	Ingram, Talk, talk, talk
Reserve Text	Lakoff and Johnson, Metaphors we live by
Requirements	Midterm (13 October) 30% Paper (24 November) 30% Final 40%
Rules of the game	No late assignments will be accepted, no extensions will be granted, and no incompletes will be awarded, without very strong reasons. Please have all readings done before class, and be prepared to discuss them.