2023-3Q Wednesday 9.10(17:15-18:55) W932 Linguistics D (LAH.A411)
Tokyo Institute of Technology [Syllabus]

Linguistics D (LAH.A411)/ W932: Facts and Figures of Language

Day 1 2023.10.04 Wittgenstein and Language Game / Is a subject necessary for language?
Day 2 2023.10.11 Turing and Turing Machine / Is a word order really needed for language?
Day 3 2023.10.18 Zipf and Zipf's Law / The criteria of language description
Day 4 2023.10.25 Daniel Jones' 18 Cardinal Vowels / Is language static or dynamic?
Day 5 2023.11.08 de Sussure and Semiotics / Is a thought first or a language first?
Day 6 2023.11.15 Fillmore and Case grammar / Categorizing and naming objects
Day 7 2023.11.22 Chomsky and Universal grammar / Conference / Examination

Day 1: 2023.10.04 Wittgenstein and Language game / Is a subject necessary for language?

This class is one of the liberal arts courses in the 400 level of the master's program.
Discussion is mandatory in this class.
In addition to attendance, written exams and research presentations are required.
If you wish to attend, please read the [Syllabus] carefully.
Please prepare one of the following textbooks.
- Linguistics For Dummies® Published by John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd. 6045 Freemont Blvd. Mississauga, Ontario, L5R 4J3
  [Amazon] [Cheat Sheet]
- An Introduction to Language: Victoria Fromkin, Robert Rodman and Nina Hyams
  [Amazon] [PDF]
Today's menu [Language game][Subject?]

Day 2: 2023.10.11 Turing and Turing Machine / Is a word order really needed for the language?

Day 3: 2023.10.18 Zipf and Zipf's Law / Set language description criteria to "understandable."

Day 4: 2023.10.25 Daniel Jones' 18 Cardinal Vowels / Is language static or dynamic?

Today's menu: Vowels pdf 18 Cardinal vowels
Additional Images: Cardinal vowels A chain of small lead plates strung together
Additional Resources: pdf Token and Markov Chain
Conference poster format: A reference book such as APA, Chicago Manual Style, etc. A paper writing guideline in your academic field/society. Online version of Chicago Manual Style is available on the campus network.

Day 5: 2023.11.08 de Sussure and Semiotics / Is a thought first or a language first?

Day 6: 2023.11.15 Fillmore and Case grammar; Categorizing and naming objects; Chomsky and Universal Grammar.

The menu of the week
- Case grammar
- Universal Grammar
Term "meme": A meme (/miːm/ MEEM) is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture—often with the aim of conveying a particular phenomenon, theme, or meaning represented by the meme. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures. In society, not only through language but also many concepts are propagated through human beings.

Day 7: 2023.11.22 Conference and examination.